Mikeitz – Page 7 – Peninim on the Torah

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

The Yalkut Shimoni, cited by Rashi at the end of Parashas Vayeishev, attributes Yosef’s “extra” years of incarceration to the fact that he asked the sar ha’mashkim, chamberlain of the cupbearers, to remember him to Pharaoh. He stated his request to be remembered twice, which explains the two years of incarceration. Chazal end with a pasuk in Tehillim 40:5, “Fortunate is the man who has placed his reliance upon Hashem and has not turned to the arrogant ones.” This refers to one who does not rely on Egypt to sustain him. Incredible! On the one hand, Chazal consider Yosef…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5772, Mikeitz

“Yosef called the name of his firstborn Menashe, for G-d has made me forget all my hardship… And the name of the second he called Efraim for, G-d has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.” (41:51-52)

As Yosef named his second son, he chose to emphasize that Egypt was not his home; it was “eretz anyi,” land of my suffering, even though this land had been the source of his eminence. Here, he had become known; here, he had become wealthy and powerful; here, he went from being a lowly slave to associate ruler of the country. Yet, he wanted to remember and inculcate this idea in his children: Egypt is not our home; it is eretz anyi, the land of aniyus – affliction, suffering and poverty. Horav Chizkiyahu Cohen, z.l., comments that the greatest “ani,” poor man,…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5772, Mikeitz

“So Yosef’s brothers, ten of them, went down to buy grain from Egypt.” (42:3)

Rashi questions the Torah’s usage of the term “Yosef’s brothers,” as opposed to “Yaakov’s sons.” Furthermore, why does the Torah state that ten brothers went down to Egypt? We are told in the next pasuk that Binyamin went down. Is there a reason that the Torah emphasizes the number ten? Rashi explains that by referring to them as Yosef’s brothers, the Torah seeks to emphasize that they all were remorseful over the sale of Yosef. Consequently, they went with brotherly affection to find and redeem him at all costs. Their sentiments towards him were not uniform, since some brothers…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5772, Mikeitz

“Indeed, we are guilty concerning our brother inasmuch as we saw his heartfelt anguish when he pleaded with us.” (42:21)

If we peruse the preceding parsha, which relates the story of the sale of Yosef to the Yishmaelim, we notice that there is no mention of Yosef pleading with his brothers. It is only from their vidui, confession, that we are able to derive that he pleaded with them not to sell him. Horav Yosef Konvitz, z.l., observes, that it is implicit in the brothers’ statement that this pleading must have taken place only at the moment that they decided to sell him to the Arab merchants. Why? Why did he not implore them earlier, when they were throwing him…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, Mikeitz

It was the end of two years to the day. (41:1)

Horav Meir, zl, m’Premishlan, related that his father had once experienced aliyas neshamah, during which his holy soul took leave of its physical container and ascended into the Heavenly sphere. He “noticed” that two “people” were being brought into Heaven; one was quite young, while the other appeared to be very old. Strangely, in Heaven, they referred to the young man as a senior citizen, while, concerning the old man, the converse was true. His father questioned this. After all, this is the Olam Ha’Emes, World of Truth. One’s age should be registered in accordance with his biological journey on…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, Mikeitz

So Yaakov said to his sons, “Why do you make yourselves conspicuous?” (42:1)

In the Talmud Taanis 10b (cited by Rashi), Chazal explain Yaakov Avinu’s words. Those who possess grain when the whole countryside is starving surely catalyze envy and ill will on the part of the descendants of Yishmael and Eisav, who were the neighbors of Yaakov and his family. Yaakov Avinu’s rhetorical question has been the motif of many Jewish leaders who admonish their fellow Jews not to shtech ois di oigen, “pierce the eyes of their gentile neighbors,” by flaunting their good fortune. Regrettably, this issue has remained over time, and has demanded constant reiteration. This idea applies whenever one’s actions may…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, Mikeitz

“All of us, sons of one man are we; we are truthful [people]; your servants have never been spies.” (42:11)

Yosef leveled an excoriating accusation at his brothers, denouncing them as treacherous spies. As Ramban explains, they responded that they were all sons of one man, who was an individual of eminent standing and whose reputation was well-known. It would not be difficult for Yosef to inquire about him and his family. In other words, they were contending that since they were distinguished people and sons of a well-known, eminent person, labeling them as spies was totally out of line. Ramban adds that they were all sent together, because their father did not want to break up the family unit. In…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, Mikeitz

They said to one another, “Indeed, we are guilty concerning our brother inasmuch as we saw his heartfelt anguish when he pleaded with us and we did not listen.” (42:21)

The saga of Yosef HaTzaddik and his brothers slowly came to a positive conclusion. The brothers, having descended to Egypt for the purpose of purchasing grain, confronted the Egyptian viceroy, who was really their long-lost brother, Yosef. They were unaware of his true identity, and after accusation and counter-diplomacy, they returned home to bring Binyamin to Egypt. Otherwise, Shimon would have been compelled to establish permanent residence in Egyptian captivity. This would have ultimately catalyzed Yaakov Avinu’s descent to Egypt and the commencement of galus Mitzrayim, the Egyptian exile. As we read the narrative, the discerning mind notes Hashem’s “handprint” on…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, Mikeitz

Their father Yaakov said to them, “I am the one whom you bereaved! Yosef is gone, Shimon is gone, and now you would take away Binyamin? Upon me has it all fallen!” (42:36)

Yaakov Avinu had experienced two tragedies with the loss of two sons: Yosef and Shimon. Horav S.R. Hirsch, zl, explains that Yaakov was addressing his sons from a practical, Torah-oriented perspective. It is quite possible that the “disappearance” of the brothers is unrelated. There is, however, one common thread between them: both tragedies directly affected Yaakov. He was left bereft of both sons. If things happen repeatedly to someone in a similar manner and he cannot see a clear reason why they should occur, he should not place himself into a position in which it could occur once again, until…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5770, Mikeitz

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

The Yalkut Shimoni, cited by Rashi at the end of Parashas Vayeishev, attributes Yosef’s “extra” years of incarceration to the fact that he asked the sar ha’mashkim, chamberlain of the cupbearers, to remember him to Pharaoh. He stated his request to be remembered twice, which explains the two years of incarceration. Chazal end with a pasuk in Tehillim 40:5, “Fortunate is the man who has placed his reliance upon Hashem and has not turned to the arrogant ones.” This refers to one who does not rely on Egypt to sustain him. Incredible! On the one hand, Chazal consider Yosef…

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

“Yosef called the name of his firstborn Menashe, for G-d has made me forget all my hardship… And the name of the second he called Efraim for, G-d has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.” (41:51-52)

“So Yosef’s brothers, ten of them, went down to buy grain from Egypt.” (42:3)

“Indeed, we are guilty concerning our brother inasmuch as we saw his heartfelt anguish when he pleaded with us.” (42:21)

It was the end of two years to the day. (41:1)

So Yaakov said to his sons, “Why do you make yourselves conspicuous?” (42:1)

“All of us, sons of one man are we; we are truthful [people]; your servants have never been spies.” (42:11)

They said to one another, “Indeed, we are guilty concerning our brother inasmuch as we saw his heartfelt anguish when he pleaded with us and we did not listen.” (42:21)

Their father Yaakov said to them, “I am the one whom you bereaved! Yosef is gone, Shimon is gone, and now you would take away Binyamin? Upon me has it all fallen!” (42:36)

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

YEARS

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