Mikeitz – Page 13 – Peninim on the Torah

Now let Pharaoh seek out a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt. (41:33)

Pharaoh asked Yosef to interpret his dreams. Yosef interpreted the dreams to Pharaoh’s satisfaction. He then proceeded to offer unsolicited advice. Is that not going beyond the scope of what he was asked to do? What compelled Yosef to step forward, to propel himself for the position? Horav Tzvi Hirsch Ferber, zl, offers a practical response. He analogizes this to two officers who had a penchant for glory. They were so wrapped up in themselves that they assumed that everyone admired and adored them. They once came to the train station and found a band playing. Each one thought that…

Home -> Mikeitz -> 5758

Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Mikeitz

Then Pharaoh said to Yosef, since Hashem has informed you of all this, there can be no one so discerning and wise as you. (41:39)

Pharaoh sounds like a believer! A man whose entire life is devoted to idol-worship, who considers himself a deity, reverts to believing in Hashem’s Word. His successor, the Pharaoh with whom Moshe dealt, was not as compliant. He exclaimed to Moshe, “Who is Hashem that I should listen to Him?” Indeed, all the miracles and wonders that transformed Egypt, seemed to have left no impression on him. What was the difference between these two Pharaohs? Is it possible that “Yosef’s” Pharaoh was a kinder, gentler and more committed pagan than his successor? Horav Yaakov Neiman, zl, comments that actually both…

Home -> Mikeitz -> 5758

Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Mikeitz

And to Yosef were born two sons….and Yosef named the firstborn Menashe, for Hashem has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house. (41:50,51)

It would be terribly wrong to think for a moment that Yosef sought to “forget” all of his past, his family, his troubles. Although he certainly would not have wanted to spend too much time remembering his bitter childhood and his strained relationship with his brothers, how could he have sought to forget about his aged father and the Torah environment in which he grew up? Walking out onto the streets of Egypt should have evoked pangs of homesickness for his family and the community of which he was no longer a part. Why then does he give his child…

Home -> Mikeitz -> 5758

Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Mikeitz

When one of them opened his sack…he saw his money and behold–it was in the mouth of his sack. (42:27)

Rashi comments that the “echad,” the individual who opened his sack and found the money, was Levi. Abarbanel says that it was by design that Levi found the money first. Yosef had Levi’s money placed by the top of his sack, so that he would be the first to discover the money. Since he was the one most responsible for Yosef’s sale into slavery, the distress he experienced would provide atonement for his sin. In any event, the one who found the money first would be the one to impose a feeling of fear and remorse upon the rest of…

Home -> Mikeitz -> 5757

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Mikeitz

“It happened at the end of two years.” (41:1)

The two years refer to the additional two years Yosef remained in prison. Initially, Hashem decreed that Yosef would be imprisoned for ten years for “slandering” his ten brothers. Hashem, however, extended his incarceration, because he placed his trust in the wine steward. In addressing Yosef’s misplaced trust, the Midrash seems to be inconsistent. They cite a pasuk in Tehillim 40:5 which states, “Praiseworthy is the man who has made Hashem his trust.” Chazal interpret this to be a reference to Yosef, whose faith in the Almighty was unshakeable. Chazal interpret the second part of the pasuk, “And turned not…

Home -> Mikeitz -> 5757

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Mikeitz

“It happened at the end of two years.” (41:1)

The Torah seems to preface the ensuing order of events with the phrase, “At the end of two years.” What is the significance of the two years? Could the Torah not have begun by simply stating that Pharaoh had a dream? After all, is that not how it all began? The Bais Ha’Levi posits that it is precisely this case of misdirected cause and effect that the Torah seeks to circumvent. We might think that Pharaoh dreamed, and Yosef was released from prison as a result of his G-d-given ability to interpret the dream. In such a scenario, Pharaoh’s dream…

Home -> Mikeitz -> 5757

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Mikeitz

“And Yosef called the name of his firstborn Menashe; for Hashem has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s household.” (41:51)

Today, we equate “forgetting one’s father’s house,” with an attempt to break with tradition. Ostensibly, this was not Yosef’s intention. Yet, is it proper for an individual to boast about being able to forget the home of his youth? Is this a phenomenon for which one thanks Hashem? While it is true that Yosef’s homelife left much to be desired, he did leave behind a grieving father. A more sensible way to view Yosef’s statement reflects upon his refined character traits. If we were to put ourselves in Yosef’s shoes, bearing a grudge would probably be a restrained reaction. Indeed,…

Home -> Mikeitz -> 5757

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Mikeitz

“And he said to his brother, my money has been returned… and they turned trembling one to another, saying, ‘What is it that Hashem has done to us?'” (42:28)

If we were to analyze the brothers’ response to this occurrence, we might be tempted to say, “What did you expect?” They had sold their brother into slavery, and Hashem was delivering their retribution. Why are they complaining?” Indeed, in the Talmud Tannis 9a Chazal allude to this. They cite the pasuk in Mishlei 19:3 iuveles adam tesalef darko v’al hashem yezaef leebo.“The foolishness of man perverts his way; and his heart frets against Hashem.” A fool makes a mistake and then complains about the punishment he receives from the Almighty. Likewise, the brothers had sold Yosef and now they…

Home -> Mikeitz -> 5757

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Mikeitz

“And may Almighty G-d grant you mercy before the man.” (43:14)

The Chofetz Chaim, zl, notes the vast power and lasting effects of every word that one speaks. Yaakov Avinu teaches us a profound lesson in the care one must exercise to guard every word that exits his mouth. We note that when Lavan accused Yaakov of stealing his terafim, idols, Yaakov countered by saying, “With whomever you shall find your gods, he shall not live” (Bereishis 31:32) The unintentional curse which Yaakov uttered had a disastrous effect. Rachel had actually taken the idols. As a result of this curse, Rachel died prematurely. When the brothers returned from Egypt, they recounted…

Home -> Mikeitz -> 5756

Sruly Schnair In 5756, Mikeitz

“Now let Pharaoh seek out a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt.” (41:33)

After successfully interpreting Pharaoh’s dreams, Yosef offered his unsolicited advice. He counseled Pharaoh to appoint a unique individual who possessed an acute mind and an uncanny ability to organize the entire country during the seven years of plenty. Horav Eliyahu Lopian, z.l., questions the need to appoint someone who is unusually perceptive. This is an undertaking for an individual who is endowed with excellent organizational and administrative skills, not someone who is astute. He responds that it takes one who is especially gifted to “see” the years of hunger at the very moment that he and everyone else are enjoying…

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Back to Home -> 5758 ->

Now let Pharaoh seek out a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt. (41:33)

Then Pharaoh said to Yosef, since Hashem has informed you of all this, there can be no one so discerning and wise as you. (41:39)

And to Yosef were born two sons….and Yosef named the firstborn Menashe, for Hashem has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house. (41:50,51)

When one of them opened his sack…he saw his money and behold–it was in the mouth of his sack. (42:27)

“It happened at the end of two years.” (41:1)

“It happened at the end of two years.” (41:1)

“And Yosef called the name of his firstborn Menashe; for Hashem has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s household.” (41:51)

“And he said to his brother, my money has been returned… and they turned trembling one to another, saying, ‘What is it that Hashem has done to us?'” (42:28)

“And may Almighty G-d grant you mercy before the man.” (43:14)

“Now let Pharaoh seek out a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt.” (41:33)

YEARS

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

You have Successfully Subscribed!