|
This
Week In The Torah
Parsha Mikeitz
Bereishis/Genesis Ch.41/1 - 44/17
Three Hints to Chanukah
by Rabbi Yechezkel Fox
As this parsha usually falls out the same time as Chanukah, we shall try and make the connection between them.
The Greeks made three decrees against the Jews: Kiddush HaChodesh (sanctifying the new moon at the beginning of the month), Mila (circumcision) and Shabbos. To remind us of the eternity of the Jewish people and that our connection to the mitzvot can never be broken, all three of these mizvot are hinted at in the parsha.
Kiddush HaChodesh: When Pharaoh summoned Yosef to interpret his dream, (Ch.41/14) it was Rosh HaShana, which, of course, is at the beginning of the month of Tishrei.
Mila: When the Egyptians started to feel the pains of hunger, the verse says: All the land of Egypt hungered, and the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. So Pharaoh said to all of Egypt,"Go to Yosef. Whatever he says to you, you should do". Ch.41/55
Rashi comments: For Yosef had told them that they should have themselves circumcised.
Shabbos: At the end of the parsha, Yosef had his goblet planted in the sack of Binyomin. Then the verse says, They had left the city, they had not gone far, and Yosef said to the one in charge of his house, "Arise, chase after them, you shall say to them, "Why do you repay evil for good?" Ch.44/4
The question is asked: How could Yosef play this trick on them when he could be risking the life of his own father and all the families of his brothers? By delaying them he may be starving them to death. The Chanukas HaTorah answers that Yosef sent his brothers off on Shabbos. Only if it was a life threatening situation would they be able to continue their journey beyond the city limits, otherwise they would be prohibited by the laws of Shabbos. Yoseph's messenger was given specific instructions to wait to see whether they went beyond the city limit. If they did, then he would have to let them continue. However, he found that they had not gone far, for they were waiting at the city limit.
* * * * *
A Wise Savings Policy
Now let Pharoh seek out a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt. Ch.41/33
After Yoseph interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh he advised the appointment of a man of understanding and wisdom to oversee the necessary preparations before the onset of the famine. Why was it required to have such a deep-thinking, philosophical person? Surely a good administrator would be sufficient, a typical Minister of Agriculture.
In the seven years of plenty that Yoseph was forecasting, there would be so much grain that it would be hard to imagine there ever being a famine. Year after year of record, bumper crops could cause laxity in the preparations for the famine. Picture a scene where a couple of bags of grain fall off the back of a wagon. Nobody would bother to reload them, as there is already such an over-abundance.
However, the famine will eventually come. Then, the whole world will be relying on the food supplies of Egypt. Then, not only every bag of grain will count, but even every kernel!
The Sages say a wise man is he who can see events of the future. Only a wise person will be capable of literally seeing the years of famine as though they are already happening. Only he, through fining or other means, will ensure that those bags of grain will be reloaded if they fall off.That is why Yoseph suggested a wise and understanding man for the job.
Similarly, it also takes a wise person to live with the knowledge that his stay in this world is limited. These are our "years of plenty," when mitzvot are easily available. In the next world, like "the years of famine," we will only enjoy that which we stocked up for ourselves.
Sources: Rav Yisrael Yaakov Levotschinsky
This
Week In The Torah's archive
Back
to the current E-geress issue
|