Parshas Mikeitz

This week’s Parsha is called Parshas Mikeitz (ME-KAY-TZ).

After learning in last week’s Parsha about how Yosef (Josef) relates the two fortunes of the baker and cupbearer in prison, Yosef is now left alone.

At the beginning of this week’s Parsha the Pharaoh (Ruler) of Egypt had two dreams in the same night. His dreams were as follows: Behold, seven robust and healthy cows emerged from the side of the Nile River, and then seven skinny, famished cows emerged and swallowed up the nice well-fed ones and their appearance didn’t change. His second dream was very similar: Behold, seven nice bundles of wheat* emerged from the side of the Nile River, then seven skinny bundles emerged and swallowed up the nice ones and didn’t change in size or appearance. In the morning, the Pharaoh went around explaining his dreams to all of his dream translators, but none of their interpretations fit well. Then, the cupbearer from the prison (last week's Parsha) recommends Yosef to translate Pharaoh's dreams. So the guards of the Pharaoh hurriedly retrieved Yosef from his prison cell and prepared him to come before the Pharaoh by changing his clothing, cutting his hair, etc. When Yosef comes before the Pharaoh the Pharaoh says to him, “I heard that you comprehend a dream to interpret it.” To which Yosef replied, “That is beyond me, it is G-d who will respond to Pharaoh’s welfare.”

After Pharaoh related his dreams to Yosef, Yosef tells him that the dreams are like one dream not two different dreams. He explained that there will be seven years of great abundance in the land of Egypt symbolized by the nice, well-fed, cows and bundles of wheat. Yosef went on to tell him that after those seven years of great abundance there will be seven terrible years of famine. Just like the emaciated cows and wheat ate up the nice ones and didn’t change, so too the famine will be so bad that everyone will forget about the seven years of abundance. He pointed out the reason for dreaming it twice was that the matter was upon them and Hashem was ready to enact the decree.

Upon hearing and excepting these interpretations Pharaoh takes action. Yosef suggested that Pharaoh should appoint a discreet and wise man to gather up enough food for the entire Egypt so there will be rations to sustain Egypt during the years of famine. Yosef was the perfect guy for the job and the Pharaoh knew it. So Pharaoh made Yosef the Viceroy (Governor) over all of Egypt. Pharoah gave him full authority, Yosef being outranked only by Pharoah himself. (Horatio Alger had nothing over on our beloved Yosef HaTsadik).

When the seven years of famine came, Yosef distributed portions of food to those in need, the Pharoah became wealthier and wealthier and everything worked as planned. Egypt survived the most brutal famine because of Yosef (and obviously Hashem's help).

A chushiv (great) Rav said on last week’s Parsha that the reason why the cupbearer was saved and not the baker was because when the cupbearer told Yosef his dream he said that in his dream he squeezed fine wine from three grape vines, (vines are natural, from Hashem) and when the baker told over his dream he said that he was carrying three baskets containing bread (which is man made) and because that cupbearer's dream involved Hashem in his actions, Hashem saved him.

We should take away from Parshas Mikeitz is to always involve Hashem in everything we do. Just like Yosef said to the Pharaoh that Hashem would interpret his dreams and not Yosef himself. This was a big Chutzpah to stick in the face of the Pharaoh. We should be bold when it comes to the honor of Hashem.

May we all learn from Yosef to always involve Hashem in all our thoughts and in everything we do! -Amen!

HAVE A GREAT SHABBOS AND WEEKEND!

Stay tuned for next week’s Parsha called, Parshas Yayigash (YAH-YEE-GASH)!

*Also described as seven grains on one stalk.