Around
Rosh Hashanah Yael bas Rivka had a small stroke she has recovered enough to
stop prayers. However, please add: Denise Esther bas Leah.
Ed-Op from the Facebook Group “Children of
Holocaust Survivors Uncensored” and unfortunately there is other group that
censor posts is run by people with an agenda. Cindy Halpern posted this on: https://www.facebook.com/groups/COJHSUNCENSORED/
She advocated for my both brothers to have full access to a good education. She wanted disabled youth to have an equal opportunity.
She was highly successful.
She was proud of me for getting a Master's Degree. And she paid for private school for my daughter. She lived to have a great-grandson. When she died, he was 6.
Even in her confused state, she felt her great-grandson had endless possibilities for his life. It never occurred to her that him being Jewish limited him in any way in America.
Just before Scott was Bar Mitzvah, there were vandalism on synagogues. I did something I never thought I would do. I concealed the exact Bar Mitzvah date on my posts. I did not want to bring trouble to my grandson or his guests.
During his Bar Mitzvah, the parking lot was monitored by cameras. Security was in place.
Of course, the murders of three people in Jersey City in a Kosher market makes me afraid, too.
Every time I hear of an attack on a synagogue, in a store, or on the street, I think how my Mom saw attacks like this in Vienna in the late 1930's. But that was then, under Nazis rule.
Mom was so proud to become an American. What happened in Vienna wouldn't happen here.
Except it is happening here in America.
I can't believe that the United States is becoming unsafe for Jews to worship, to shop, to walk on the street.
I have no clever answer to offer, only that perpetrators must be punished to the full extent of the law. That members of Congress should not be permitted to incite hate. That Facebook should not permit anti-Semitism in its format. That anyone on college campus who violates Jewish students' rights should be kicked out. And finally, to inform people that be anti-Israel is anti-Semitism. To promote anti-Israel activity is to encourage anti-Semitism.
Up to a few years ago, in my lifetime, I didn't experience wide spread anti-Semitism. But that has changed now. I am not just sad for myself, I am grieved for my grandson. What kind of America is this for him to be Jewish? Not the kind I would wish for him.
Post note on the Ed-Op: My father and grandfather also were victims from Vienna. My father always told me to hide my Jewishness as he was afraid that it “could happen here” say your mother was Leroy but my birth certificate had my mother as Levy. There is no 100% safe haven for Jews. But as our Sages say those who live in Israel it is as if they have a G-D and those who live abroad as if they don’t have a G-D. I have seen Hashgacha (help or interaction) from G-D abroad but miracles in Israel. Worse of all are the Torahless Jews like Bernie Sanders. He is married to a non-Jew making his children non-Jewish strangers and he himself cheers the imaginary land of Palestine and wants to cut aid to Israel. People like him are the ones that the antisemites view as the worse threat for they have assimilate to such an extent that they endanger the white supremacy’s racial purity.
Parsha Vayeishev Part 2 Parsha
spelling corrected to match Art Scroll
Last
week we ended in the middle of the making of Moshiach Ben David. However, we
see a great problem. Yehuda was going to get the Malchus (Kingship) but two of
his son’s that were married to Tamar died. He is afraid that she might be a
woman that is too much for men and that his third and last son would die being
married to her. He withholds sending Shelach to preform Yebum (Levirate)
Marriage with her. We will now see behind the scenes that man, in our case
Yehuda, proposes and G-D disposes the making of the Moshiach through Tamar.
12
And in process of time Shua's daughter, the wife of Judah, died; and Judah was
comforted, and went up unto his sheep-shearers to Timnah, he and his friend
Hirah the Adullamite.
Yehuda was now without a wife and without two sons. HASHEM was
about to give him a replacement. Note as with Iyob when his wealth returned
doubled, the number of children were what they were before. The reason is that
wealth can be replaced and even grow but the loss of a child cannot be
replaced.
13
And it was told Tamar, saying: 'Behold, thy father-in-law goes up to Timnah to
shear his sheep.'
Now is the time for the widow to perform Yebum with the redeemer.
14
And she put off from her the garments of her widowhood, and covered herself
with her veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the entrance of Enaim, which is
by the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown up, and she was not
given unto him to wife.
As with the Bedouin a married woman covers her face.
15
When Judah saw her, he thought her to be a harlot; for she had covered her
face.
Yehuda withheld Shelah from her. However, he too was a redeemer of
his son’s widow. Little did he know that he was going to make the line of the
Moshiach not through a son but via Tamar direct from himself.
16
And he turned unto her by the way, and said: 'Come, I pray thee, let me come in
unto thee'; for he knew not that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said:
'What wilt thou give me, that thou may come in unto me?' 17 And he said: 'I
will send thee a kid of the goats from the flock.' And she said: 'Wilt thou
give me a pledge, till thou send it?' 18 And he said: 'What pledge shall I give
thee?' And she said: 'Thy signet and thy cord, and thy staff that is in thy
hand.' And he gave them to her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him.
She took the future kingdom’s seal, shepherd’s staff and cord for
praying. She was guaranteed to be now the mother of the line of Moshiach.
19
And she arose, and went away, and put off her veil from her, and put on the
garments of her widowhood. 20 And Judah sent the kid of the goats by the hand
of his friend the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the woman's hand; but
he found her not. 21 Then he asked the men of her place, saying: 'Where is the
harlot, that was at Enaim by the wayside?' And they said: 'There hath been no
harlot here.' 22 And he returned to Judah, and said: 'I have not found her; and
also the men of the place said: There hath been no harlot here.' 23 And Judah
said: 'Let her take it, lest we be put to shame; behold, I sent this kid, and
thou hast not found her.'
The woman deserves payment and I could be embarrassed if she
produces the three things that she received from me.
24
And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying:
'Tamar thy daughter-in-law hath played the harlot; and moreover, behold, she is
with child by harlotry.' And Judah said: 'Bring her forth, and let her be
burnt.'
Burnt – is for a bas Cohain like his former wife who committed
adultery. She is with child and should have either had Chalitza or married one
his sons and go divorced. From whom did she become pregnant only by some
hanky-panky.
25
When she was brought forth, she sent to her father-in-law, saying: 'By the man,
whose these are, am I with child'; and she said: 'Discern, I pray thee, whose
are these, the signet, and the cords, and the staff.'
She did not say, “You made me pregnant.” Rather she thought that
it was better to be burned by fire than speak Lashon HaRa. However, she had a
staff, ring and cord each which had the name and perhaps symbol of the Lion on
them.
26
And Judah acknowledged them, and said: 'She is more righteous than I; forasmuch
as I gave her not to Shelah my son.' And he knew her again no more.
He stood up took responsibility for his actions and acknowledged
that he was the father. As or Yehuda and Tamar the Pshat says it was a onetime
fling. The Gemara holds that they lived happily ever after as per the Hebrew.
But he no longer continued: Heb. וְלֹא-יָסַף.
Some say: he did not continue [to know her] (Targum Onkelos), and others say:
he did not cease (Sotah 10b). (A similar instance is found in connection with
Eldad and Medad (Num.
11:25), [where the verse
reads:] וְלֹא יָסָפוּ, they did not
continue, which the Targum renders: וְלֹא פָסְקוּ,
they did not cease).
27
And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her
womb. 28 And it came to pass, when she travailed, that one put out a hand; and
the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying: 'This came
out first.' 29 And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold his
brother came out; and she said: 'Wherefore hast thou made a breach for
thyself?' Therefore, his name was called Perez.
Peretz or break through – breach.
30
And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand;
and his name was called Zerah.
Since the start of the Moshiach ben David has been established, it
is time for our narrative to turn to the Moshiach ben Yosef.
39:1 And Joseph was brought down to
Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, the captain of the guard, an
Egyptian, bought him of the hand of the Yishmaelites, that had brought him down
thither. 2 And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he
was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
This was supposed to be the continuation of making of Moshiach ben
Yosef.
Yosef is brought down to Egypt having a master who is so high up
in the Egyptian rank that he had to become a Eunuch to serve in Pharaoh’s
chamber. Yosef it seems works hard - that the LORD made all that he did
to prosper in his hand.
Until: 5 And it came to pass from the time that he
appointed him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD
blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD
was upon all that he had, in the house and in the field. 6 And he left all that
he had in Joseph's hand; and, having him, he knew not aught save the bread
which he did eat. And Joseph was of beautiful form, and fair to look upon.
Now Mrs. Potiphar was not a Eunuch like her husband and may have
been in her 30’s during the prime of the female libido. Yosef was in wonderful
shape and very handsome with quite smooth skin (Based on the statement in the
Gemara about Rabbi Yochanan, who came from Yosef.) Yosef most likely looked
like his mother, Rachel.
7
And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes
upon Joseph; and she said: 'Lie with me.' 8 But he refused, and said unto his
master's wife: 'Behold, my master, having me, know not what is in the house,
and he hath put all that he hath into my hand; 9 he is not greater in this
house than I; neither hath he kept back anything from me but thee, because thou
art his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?' 10
And it came to pass, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not
unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her. 11 And it came to pass on a certain
day, when he went into the house to do his work, and there was none of the men
of the house there within,
Most likely she devised a plan and got everybody but Yosef out of
the house. She saw that from her would come Moshiach bas Yosef but it would be
through a daughter.
12
that she caught him by his garment, saying: 'Lie with me.' And he left his
garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.
To put it mildly, she was not dressed like a Taliban woman dresses
in public and literally pulled off Yosef’s garment and like the Arab Galabieh
today is worn without underwear. (See Shemos on the pants of the Cohanim for
greater explanation.)
13
And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and
was fled forth, 14 that she called unto the men of her house, and spoke unto
them, saying: 'See, he hath brought in a Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in
unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice.
Fifty plus years ago there was a book written by a Psychiatrist
called: “Games People Play”. The book analyzed the Potiphar’s Wife
Syndrome. 3,000 years later in either the Ukraine or nearby would be a Chassid
that was in the woods. He would come to a house and asked to warm up from the
bitter winter. He removed his jacket. He fled into the cold leaving his jacket
behind and ran and ran towards his destination. In the meantime, the husband of
the woman came home found a coat and the woman claimed attempted rape. The
husband pursues after the Chassid Yosef with fury. The Rebbe called his
Chassidim out to walk with a coat or blankets towards the woods. The Chassid
came and the husband close behind. When the people cried Yosef and lifted him up,
the husband got the idea.
15
And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he
left his garment by me, and fled, and got him out.' 16 And she laid up his
garment by her, until his master came home. 17 And she spoke unto him according
to these words, saying: 'The Hebrew servant, whom thou hast brought unto us,
came in unto me to mock me. 18 And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and
cried, that he left his garment by me, and fled out.' 19 And it came to pass,
when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spoke unto him, saying:
'After this manner did thy servant to me'; that his wrath was kindled.
Why didn’t he kill Yosef? Most likely, a different servant spoke
up in Yosef’s favor explaining the truth.
20
And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, the place where the
king's prisoners were bound; and he was there in the prison. 21 But the LORD
was with Joseph, and showed kindness unto him, and gave him favor in the sight
of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison committed to
Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they
did there, he was the doer of it. 23 The keeper of the prison looked not to anything
that was under his hand, because the LORD was with him; and that which he did,
the LORD made it to prosper.
There is a Medrash that this same woman, came to torment Yosef
there too and he resisted.
40:1 And it came to pass after these
things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker offended their lord
the king of Egypt. 2 And Pharaoh was wroth against his two officers, against
the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers. 3 And he put
them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the
place where Joseph was bound. 4 And the captain of the guard charged Joseph to
be with them, and he ministered unto them; and they continued a season in ward.
These were VIP prisoners. There was a fly found in Pharaoh’s wine
cup that he was angry at the butler and a very small pebble in his cake or
bread from the baker.
5
And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream, in one night, each
man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of
the king of Egypt, who were bound in the prison. 6 And Joseph came in unto them
in the morning, and saw them, and, behold, they were sad. 7 And he asked
Pharaoh's officers that were with him in the ward of his master's house,
saying: 'Wherefore look ye so sad to-day?' 8 And they said unto him: 'We have
dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it.' And Joseph said unto
them: 'Do not interpretations belong to God? tell it me, I pray you.'
My father has given me a tradition dating back perhaps to Adam of
messages from G-D in dreams. (Measure for measure is that Yosef had two dreams
that got him haughty and into this situation. Now Yosef was about to interpret
two sets of two dreams as a humble slave in jail and before Pharaoh to be
lifted up.)
…11
and Pharaoh's cup was in my hand; and I took the grapes, and pressed them into
Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand.' 12 And Joseph said unto
him: 'This is the interpretation of it: the three branches are three days; 13
within yet three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head, and restore thee unto
thine office; and thou shalt give Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former
manner when thou were his butler.
According to the Medrash each man dreamed his dream and the
solution to his fellow. The butler was worried about his dream because he saw
the interpretation of the baker. The baker was upset because of his own dream.
14
But have me in thy remembrance when it shall be well with thee, and show
kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me
out of this house. 15 For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the
Hebrews; and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the
dungeon.'
He should have been released with the butler but because he relied
on the butler instead of HASHEM he was given two more years in jail. However,
there is a tradition that one must not wait for a miracle but to do his best to
do things naturally.
For we build a shelter to protect ourselves from our enemies.
[Remember the two incidents from the Gulf War. There were two shelters by ‘Beit
Danny’ in Holon. One was either missing the key or rusted solid. The other
opened easily so everybody crushed themselves into the one shelter. The rocket
hit Beit Danny the locked shelter was completely destroyed but the other one
unscathed.
Then there was Eitam G. who used to drive his motorcycle up and
down Rehov Rav Kahaneman in Bnei Brak on Shabbos. The Stippler Rebbe said the
day would come and he would die from the equivalent of stoning. It was rumored that he had places a swine’s
head in the Beis Knesset HaGadol or Rehov Rabbi Akiva. He ran to his shelter
when the siren went off. Because he was slightly delayed he was just before the
entrance. The rocket hit knocking off the heavy iron door onto Eitam killing
him with the punishment of stoning for violating Shabbos.]
16
When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph:
'I also saw in my dream, and, behold, three baskets of white bread were on my
head; 17 and in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of baked food for
Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head.' 18 And
Joseph answered and said: 'This is the interpretation thereof: the three
baskets are three days; 19 within yet three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head
from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh
from off thee.'
Vultures, Crows, Ravens do not attack a living person unless that
person threatens their nest or mate. So it must be that the birds were picking
on things of a dead person.
20
And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a
feast unto all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and
the head of the chief baker among his servants. 21 And he restored the chief
butler back unto his butlership; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand. 22
But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23 Yet did
not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgot him.
So
last week, we should have ended the Parsha here wondering what will be with
Yosef and the Moshiach ben Yosef.
Parsha Miketz
Things
are not simple for Yosef or for Yacov. Yacov is without Yosef and very
depressed all this time. It is now 13 years without his favorite son in the imagine
of Rachel.
41:1 And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed:
and, behold, he stood by the river. 2
And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, well-favored and
fat-fleshed; and they fed in the reed-grass. 3 And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill-favored
and lean-fleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river. 4 And the ill-favored and lean-fleshed kine did eat up
the seven well-favored and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke. 5 And he slept and dreamed a second time: and, behold,
seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good. 6 And, behold, seven ears, thin and blasted with the
east wind, sprung up after them. 7 And
the thin ears swallowed up the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke,
and, behold, it was a dream.
Morning dreams or dreams that are remembered has
special meanings. When they repeat it means that they are coming true soon.
Interestingly, but the dreams in last week’s Parsha had numbers and this week’s
Parsha had numbers in them.
8 And it came to pass in the
morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the
magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof; and Pharaoh told them his
dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.
This happens to Novi Daniel with Nebuchadnezzar
and his dream – only it was worse and he forgot his dream!
9 Then spoke the chief butler unto
Pharaoh, saying: 'I make mention of my faults this day: 10 Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in
the ward of the house of the captain of the guard, me and the chief baker. 11 And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we
dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream. 12 And there was with us there a young man, a Hebrew,
servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us
our dreams; to each man according to his dream he did interpret.
There was a rule that a youth, Hebrew (foreigner)
and slave could not be a Minister. What did the god-king Pharaoh do, he claimed
a divine law! Even the praise of this man is wicked.
13 And it came to pass, as he
interpreted to us, so it was: I was restored unto mine office, and he was
hanged.' 14 Then Pharaoh sent and called
Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon. And he shaved himself,
and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.
Yosef is not so much a youth anymore as he is now
30 years old.
15 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph: 'I
have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it; and I have heard
say of thee, that when thou hear a dream thou canst interpret it.' 16 And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying: 'It is not in
me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.'
Again humbly it is not I but G-D who interprets
dreams.
17 And Pharaoh spoke unto Joseph:
'In my dream, behold, … And I told it unto the magicians; but there was none
that could declare it to me.' 25 And
Joseph said unto Pharaoh: 'The dream of Pharaoh is one; what God is about to do
He hath declared unto Pharaoh.
The two dreams are actually one.
26 The seven good kine are seven
years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one. 27 And the seven lean and ill-favored kine that came up
after them are seven years, and also the seven empty ears blasted with the east
wind; they shall be seven years of famine.
You have been shown the next 14 years of crop
cycle.
28 That is the thing which I spoke
unto Pharaoh: what God is about to do He hath shown unto Pharaoh. 29 Behold, there come seven years of great plenty
throughout all the land of Egypt. 30 And
there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be
forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land; 31 and the plenty shall not be known in the land by
reason of that famine which follows; for it shall be very grievous. 32 And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh
twice, it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly
bring it to pass.
These years of plenty and famine are coming soon.
Here is what needs to be done:
33 Now therefore let Pharaoh look
out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint overseers
over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven
years of plenty.
20% will be sufficient each year for sustaining
the population as there is a large surplus in the years of plenty and there is
an export trade into Africa and Asia of gain.
35 And let them gather all the food
of these good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh for
food in the cities, and let them keep it. 36 And the food shall be for a store to the land against the seven years
of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land will not perish
through the famine.'
This man must know what to do with urban planning
and population movements so that each village, town and city will have their
storage silos.
37 And the thing was good in the
eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants. 38 And Pharaoh said unto his servants: 'Can we find such
a one as this, a man in whom the spirit of God is?'
Pharaoh, upon hearing the planned solution and
wisdom of Yosef, knew that Yosef not only interpreted the dream but knew the
solution to the troubles that follows.
39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph:
'Forasmuch as God hath shown thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise
as you. 40 You shalt be over my house,
and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled; only in the throne will
I be greater than thou.'
You shall be the viceroy or prime minister of
Mitzrayim second in command in my house.
41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph:
'See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.' 42 And Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand,
and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and
put a gold chain about his neck.
The Bnei Yisrael were not used to flaunting their
wealth with gold chains. They had their signet rings, staff and cord that was
sufficient for them.
43 And he made him to ride in the
second chariot which he had; and they cried before him: 'Abrech'; and he set
him over all the land of Egypt.
Abrech bend the knee or bow before the viceroy to
Pharaoh.
44 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph: 'I
am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or his foot in all
the land of Egypt.' 45 And Pharaoh called
Joseph's name Zaphenath-paneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of
Poti-phera priest of On. And Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.
Zaphenath-paneah reversing the words to English
makes it solver of the hidden. Osnat according to the Mishnah was the daughter
of Dina-Schem and adopted by the priest of On. The reason why Pharaoh had him
married off is that he wants to make sure that his number two has a wife. Yosef
was young and unmarried and Pharaoh did not need him as a Eunuch as he was like
Pharaoh but he did not need a good looking bachelor near the harem.
46 And Joseph was thirty years old
when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the
presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt. 47 And in the seven years of plenty the earth brought
forth in heaps. 48 And he gathered up all
the food of the seven years which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the
food in the cities; the food of the field, which was round about every city,
laid he up in the same.
He learned from Yacov to take an inventory of
each item as he did with the little vials that he returned over the river and
then wrestled the angel of Esav.
49 And Joseph laid up corn as the
sand of the sea, very much, until they left off numbering; for it was without
number.
The highest number from a song of praise that we
have is 10,000 times 10,000 or 100,000,000 as far as Billions. Trillions,
Sextillion, Quadrillion, etc. Yosef had amassed a tremendous amount of grain
and kept amassing more.
50 And unto Joseph were born two
sons before the year of famine came, whom Asenath the daughter of Poti-phera
priest of On bore unto him. 51 And Joseph
called the name of the first-born Manasseh: 'for God hath made me forget all my
toil, and all my father's house.' 52 And
the name of the second called he Ephraim: 'for God hath made me fruitful in the
land of my affliction.' 53 And the seven
years of plenty, that was in the land of Egypt, came to an end.
Yosef was busy in the land of Egypt building
graineries and stowing away grain.
Question: Why didn’t Yosef contact Yacov? There
are a number of reasons and the last one was about Yosef waiting for the time
when his dreams would be fulfilled – Rabbi Ben Porat Shlita quoting a
commentary.
Yosef was busy in the land of Egypt building
grainers and stowing away grain.
54 And the seven years of famine
began to come, according as Joseph had said; and there was famine in all lands;
but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 55 And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to
Pharaoh for bread; and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians: 'Go unto Joseph;
what he says to you, do.'
These were standard procedures.
56 And the famine was over all the
face of the earth; and Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the
Egyptians; and the famine was sore in the land of Egypt. 57 And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph to buy
corn; because the famine was sore in all the earth.
The prophecy about Avraham’s seed going down to
Egypt did not occur.
42:1 Now Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, and Jacob said unto his
sons: 'Why do ye look one upon another?' 2
And he said: 'Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt. Get you down
thither, buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die.' 3 And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn from
Egypt.
What is the matter with your inaction time to do
something about your problem instead of going in circles and complaining? The
solution is obvious go and purchase food.
4 But Benjamin, Joseph's brother,
Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said: 'Lest peradventure harm befall
him.' 5 And the sons of Israel came to
buy among those that came; for the famine was in the land of Canaan. 6 And Joseph was the governor over the land; he it was
that sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph's brethren came, and bowed
down to him with their faces to the earth. 7 And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange
unto them, and spoke roughly with them; and he said unto them: 'Whence come
ye?' And they said: 'From the land of Canaan to buy food.'
Yosef was about to test them and question them
about their father and his brother Benyamin.
8 And Joseph knew his brethren, but
they knew him not. 9 And Joseph
remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them: 'Ye are
spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.'
His action was not suspect because they were used
to all sorts of charges from antisemites or ignoramouses.
10 And they said unto him: 'Nay, my
lord, but to buy food are thy servants come. 11 We are all one man's sons; we are upright men, thy servants are no
spies.' 12 And he said unto them: 'Nay,
but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.' 13 And they said: 'We thy servants are twelve brethren,
the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this
day with our father, and one is not.'
They knew that they could not produce Yosef so
even if they had hope of finding a slave by that name, one was not.
14 And Joseph said unto them: 'That
is it that I spoke unto you, saying: Ye are spies. 15 Hereby ye shall be proved, as Pharaoh lives, ye shall
not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither. 16 Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and
ye shall be bound, that your words may be proved, whether there be truth in
you; or else, as Pharaoh lives, surely ye are spies.'
They were imprisoned for 3 days against 3 days
that Yosef was in the pit.
17 And he put them all together
into ward three days. 18 And Joseph said
unto them the third day. 'This do, and live; for I fear God: 19 if ye be upright men, let one of your brethren be
bound in your prison-house; but go ye, carry corn for the famine of your
houses; 20 and bring your youngest
brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die.' And
they did so. 21 And they said one to another:
'We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of
his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore, is this
distress come upon us.'
Yosef spoke through an interpreter and they did
not know that he understood them.
22 And Reuben answered them,
saying: 'Spoke I not unto you, saying: Do not sin against the child; and ye
would not hear? therefore also, behold, his blood is required.'
Now the law of Mida Knegged Mida (measure for
measure) requires our punishment.
23 And they knew not that Joseph
understood them; for the interpreter was between them. 24 And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and
he returned to them, and spoke to them, and took Simeon from among them, and
bound him before their eyes.
He heard that the real instigator was Shimon. So
now Shimon would be in prison like Yosef was.
25 Then Joseph commanded to fill
their vessels with corn, and to restore every man's money into his sack, and to
give them provision for the way; and thus was it done unto them. 26 And they laded their asses with their corn, and
departed thence. 27 And as one of them
opened his sack to give his ass provender in the lodging-place, he espied his
money; and, behold, it was in the mouth of his sack. 28 And he said unto his brethren: 'My money is restored;
and, lo, it is even in my sack.' And their heart failed them, and they turned
trembling one to another, saying: 'What is this that God hath done unto us?'
Rabbi Ben Porat explains why they could not check
their sacks in Mitzrayim not only this time but with Benyamin as Yosef
commanded that they leave the country with sealed sacks so they would not be
carrying counter band out.
29 And they came unto Jacob their
father unto the land of Canaan, and told him all that had befallen them,
saying: 30 'The man, the lord of the
land, spoke roughly with us, and took us for spies of the country. 31 And we said unto him: We are upright men; we are no
spies. 32 We are twelve brethren, sons of
our father; one is not, and the youngest is this day with our father in the
land of Canaan. 33 And the man, the lord
of the land, said unto us: Hereby shall I know that ye are upright men: leave
one of your brethren with me, and take corn for the famine of your houses, and go
your way. 34 And bring your youngest
brother unto me; then shall I know that ye are no spies, but that ye are
upright men; so will I deliver you your brother, and ye shall traffic in the
land.'
These bumpkins did not understand why bringing an
11th brother would show that they were not spies. HASHEM made it so
that they fell straight into Yosef’s trap. Why not bring somebody off the
street? Why a real brother? Yacov lacking prophecy because he was depressed
from Yosef’s “death” that he also missed this.
35 And it came to pass as they
emptied their sacks, that, behold, every man's bundle of money was in his sack;
and when they and their father saw their bundles of money, they were afraid. 36 And Jacob their father said unto them: 'Me have ye
bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take
Benjamin away; upon me are all these things come.' 37 And Reuben spoke unto his father, saying: 'Thou shalt
slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee; deliver him into my hand, and I
will bring him back to thee.'
What pleasure will Yacov get by killing anybody
much less two grandchildren. Reuven is foolish and cannot be trusted.
38 And he said: 'My son shall not
go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he only is left; if harm befall
him by the way in which ye go, then will ye bring down my gray hairs with
sorrow to the grave. 43:1 And the famine was sore in the
land. 2 And it came to pass, when they
had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, that their father
said unto them: 'Go again, buy us a little food.' 3 And Judah spoke unto him, saying: 'The man did
earnestly forewarn us, saying: Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be
with you.
They could see by Chachmas HaPanim (literally the
knowledge of the face or facial expression) that they could see that he was
telling the truth regarding Benyamin.
4 If thou wilt send our brother
with us, we will go down and buy thee food; 5 but if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down, for the man said
unto us: Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.'
We are afraid of this man and can’t go down
without Benyamin.
6 And Israel said: 'Wherefore dealt
ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?' 7 And they said: 'The man asked straightly concerning
ourselves, and concerning our kindred, saying: Is your father yet alive? have
ye another brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words;
could we in any wise know that he would say: Bring your brother down?' 8 And Judah said unto Israel his father: 'Send the lad
with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live, and not die, both we, and
thou, and also our little ones. 9 I will
be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him; if I bring him not unto
thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame forever.
I will guarantee my Olam HaBa that I will bring
back the lad safe unto thee.
10 For except we had lingered,
surely we had now returned a second time.' 11 And their father Israel said unto them: 'If it be so now, do this: take
of the choice fruits of the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a
present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices and laudanum, nuts, and
almonds; 12 and take double money in your
hand; and the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks carry back in
your hand; peradventure it was an oversight; 13 take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man; 14 and God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that
he may release unto you your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I be
bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.'
I entrust you my most precious one as if not we
will all die from famine only bring him back.
15 And the men took that present,
and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, and went
down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph. 16
And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house:
'Bring the men into the house, and kill the beasts, and prepare the meat; for
the men shall dine with me at noon.'
His servants were taught kosher slaughter and they
feared Yosef and were loyal to him.
17 And the man did as Joseph bade;
and the man brought the men into Joseph's house.
This was something out of the ordinary but one dare not question
the chief man under the god-king.
…20 and said: 'Oh my lord, we came
indeed down at the first time to buy food. 21 And it came to pass, when we came to the lodging-place, that we opened
our sacks, and, behold, every man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our
money in full weight; and we have brought it back in our hand. …23 And he said: 'Peace be to you, fear not; your God,
and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks; I had your
money.' And he brought Simeon out unto them.
Nothing to worry about and here is your brother
dressed, haircut and bathed.
24 And the man brought the men into
Joseph's house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave
their asses provender. 25 And they made
ready the present against Joseph's coming at noon; for they heard that they
should eat bread there.
Maybe this was compensation for jailing Shimon.
26 And when Joseph came home, they
brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed down
to him to the earth. 27 And he asked them
of their welfare, and said: 'Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spoke?
Is he yet alive?' 28 And they said: 'Thy
servant our father is well, he is yet alive.' And they bowed the head, and made
obeisance.
Again “your servant our father” and it would cut
down his years.
29 And he lifted up his eyes, and
saw Benjamin his brother, his mother's son, and said: 'Is this your youngest
brother of whom ye spoke unto me?' And he said: 'God be gracious unto thee, my
son.'
He could see the resemblance that the fearful
brothers could not and even bewildered Benyamin missed it.
30 And Joseph made haste; for his
heart yearned toward his brother; and he sought where to weep; and he entered
into his chamber, and wept there. 31 And
he washed his face, and came out; and he refrained himself, and said: 'Set on
bread.' 32 And they set on for him by
himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, that did eat with
him, by themselves; because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews;
for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians. 33 And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and
the youngest according to his youth; and the men marvelled one with another. 34 And portions were taken unto them from before him;
but Benjamin's portion was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank,
and were merry with him.
He divined about things that he knew as brother
back years ago including Reuven with the moving of the beds.
44:1 And he commanded the steward of his house, saying: 'Fill the men's
sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man's money in his
sack's mouth. 2 And put my goblet, the
silver goblet, in the sack's mouth of the youngest, and his corn money.' And he
did according to the word that Joseph had spoken. 3 As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent
away, they and their asses. 4 And when
they were gone out of the city, and were not yet far off, Joseph said unto his
steward: 'Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto
them: Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good? … 9 With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, let him
die, and we also will be my lord's bondmen.'
A foolish reply.
10 And he said: 'Now also let it be
according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my bondman; and ye
shall be blameless.'
The thief will be a slave.
11 Then they hastened, and took
down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack. 12 And he searched, beginning at the eldest, and leaving
off at the youngest; and the goblet was found in Benjamin's sack.
They did this so nobody would suspect they
planted the cup by Benyamin.
13 And they rent their clothes, and
laded every man his ass, and returned to the city. 14 And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph's house,
and he was yet there; and they fell before him on the ground. 15 And Joseph said unto them: 'What deed is this that ye
have done? know ye not that such a man as I will indeed divine?'
They finally bowed down to him to fulfill the
dream.
16 And Judah said: 'What shall we
say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God
hath found out the iniquity of thy servants; behold, we are my lord's bondmen,
both we, and he also in whose hand the cup is found.' 17 And he said: 'Far be it from me that I should do so;
the man in whose hand the goblet is found, he shall be my bondman; but as for
you, get you up in peace unto your father.'
Our
Parsha ends with Yehuda having all thoughts racing through his mind. It is not
fair there is no Mida Knegged Mida here as Benyamin was the only brother who
did not sell Yosef. Something was wrong with the Karma (modern term) here. Next
week we shall find out what happens to Benyamin.
There is no story this week as I had a serious
relapse in my dizziness – imbalance from a car accident almost 23 years ago.
With the help of G-D I am recovering but still I have to do check-ups. I am
well enough that I do not need prayers other than normal blessings for good
health one wishes a person. Hopefully, a few stories next week.
Another
plot to assassinate Rabbi Yehuda Glick Shlita but stopped by the Shin Bet. See
video in his own words. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVcMR9OxIbg
Jewish
Home and Jewish Strength join together to form a joint list. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/273433
Jewish
Home woos Eli Yishai. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/273558
Rivers
overflowing in storm as youth on tractor swept into flood waters. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/ByR4Hbz1I
Asking
Justice Minister to extend term of Chief Rabbi of Yerushalayim. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/273677
USA
former Israelis by-pass differences to prevent assimilation. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/273683
Inyanay Diyoma
Senile
Socialist Candidate self-hating Jew who made sure his children were non-Jewish
by have Goya as wife. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/273419
ICC
manipulated both Ganz and Netanyahu criticize fake probe into Israel. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/273453
Brits
says goodbye to EU. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/273447
NY
Yeshiva Schools fail to make secular standards. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/273451
Egypt
sends force to oust Al Qaeda from Tripoli. https://www.debka.com/egyptian-tanks-sent-to-libya-to-thwart-turkish-intervention-in-battle-for-tripoli/
Iranian
Drone field destroyed. Saudis take over defunct Syrian Oil Field. https://www.debka.com/new-iranian-drone-base-destroyed-near-abu-kamal-first-saudi-unit-lands-at-syrian-oil-field/
Aussie
wildfires catastrophic. https://www.foxnews.com/world/australias-catastrophic-wildfires-continue-amid-soaring-temperatures-as-pm-rushes-home
Missing
mom did grand theft. https://www.foxnews.com/us/missing-west-virginia-mom-located-arrested-on-grand-larceny-charges-sheriff-says
Good
Dog K-9 jumps into car to take down thief. https://www.foxnews.com/us/california-k-9-jumps-through-shattered-car-window-takes-down-assault-suspect-video-shows
Surveillance
team arrested in Cyprus. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/SJWCJ8tCS
From
Barbara and Valerie: Holocaust heroine on new stamp. https://www.timesofisrael.com/postage-stamp-features-brazilian-who-helped-rescue-jews-from-the-nazis/
6
dead on roads in Israel. In the morning a minibus drove under a truck killing
2, 2 critical and 4 others injured. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/273525
Did
Syria down missiles or on target? https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/273511
NZ
Volcano death toll rises to 19. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/death-toll-from-new-zealand-volcano-eruption-rises-to-19/ar-BBYfnYW?ocid=spartanntp
Did
a Menorah spark fire that burned down a UK Yeshiva? https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/273524
Greece-Cyprus-Israel
sign a gas pipeline deal. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/273510
NK
may fire nuke missile in test. https://www.foxnews.com/world/us-high-alert-christmas-gift-missile-north-korea
Who
says Israel is a dangerous place? Try MN shooting 1 dead 7 injured. https://edition.cnn.com/2019/12/22/us/spring-lake-minnesota-shooting/index.html
7
shot in Baltimore one stabbed to death. https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/crime/bs-md-ci-overnight-shootings-20190601-story.html
There’s
a hole in the bottom of the sea. https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/science/thousands-of-mysterious-holes-discovered-on-pacific-ocean-floor/
Iran
threatens Israel. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/273580
Environmentalists
against Israeli gas com. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/273573
Antisemitism
in Hague Court. The Chief Justice was a Justice working for a murderous
dictator and rapist from the Ivy Coast. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/273567
Hanucha
from space. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/273560
Next
war, Civilians will be prime targets. https://www.debka.com/kochavi-direct-conflict-with-iran-is-improbable-still-he-warned-of-increased-fire-power-against-civilian-areas/
Cruise
Missiles that hit Iran in Syria a telling blow. https://www.debka.com/the-cruise-missiles-that-struck-irgc-air-force-hq-in-syria-a-telling-blow-for-irans-mid-east-plans/
More
Iranian facilities hit near Iraqi Border. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/273663
Understanding
with Gaza but not the Jihad. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/B1aCBxz1U
Court
Guard stabbed to death. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/ByR4Hbz1I
Bibi
again under rocket fire this time Ashkelon as Ganz attacks policy that permits
the terrorist to dominate where the PM can travel. Primaries in the Likud today
after some empty buildings in Gaza were bombed. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/273686
UAV
to bolster soldiers. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/273674
Fourth
Arab Bully suspect in mixed Jewish – Arab Market bullying arrested. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/273675
Asking
Justice Minister to extend term of Chief Rabbi of Yerushalayim. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/273677
After
Netanyahu came under attack several targets were hit. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/273666
Laser
that intercepts incendiary balloons. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/273679
USA
former Israelis by-pass differences to prevent assimilation. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/273683
Poland
antisemites have innocent Jew Jailed. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/273596
NYC
aged Jew attacked in Manhattan. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/273617
Ham
?accidently? placed in kosher section in UK. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/273627
Big
Mac puts out a Menorah in Brazil. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/273632
MDA
dispute puts Jews in danger. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/273637
Trump
calls 4 end of Syria’s bloodshed. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/273717
Iran
receives a jolt from HASHEM. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/273711
More
assaults on Jews in NYC. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/273702
Eric
Sharon once beat Bibi 72 to 28 percent so Gideon Saar is not so bad off. https://www.debka.com/netanyahus-primary-victory-boosts-likud-election-campaign/
Turkey
detains ISIS subjects. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/273707
A
good Shabbos, Chodesh Tov and Hanucha Samayach,
Rachamim
Pauli
