Dvar Parsha Miketz 5783

Bereishit 41:1 to 44:17

Clothing, Teshuvah, and Chanukah

Before going into the Parsha itself, we all know someone, goodness I need to look no farther than myself, who grows through experience. Teshuvah means more than just repentance, rather return to that potential that lies within us all, our inner light, that spark of the divine.

Leading up to this parsha, we saw Josef (Joseph) in his multicolor coat, a tad arrogant with dreams of grandeur. He loses that coat, gain another tunic as a slave, loses that one to enter prison after the incident with Potiphar’ wife. Others showed growth as well. We can talk about that later.

In this week’s parsha, Pharoah dreams of seven healthy cows, who are subsequently eaten by seven gaunt cows. After that he dreams of seven healthy grain sprouts, but behind them are seven weak ones that eat up the healthy ones.

Interesting, in a parsha generally read at Chanukah, seeing a victory of the weak over the powerful. At the point where the prisoner will become second in charge of Egypt, the mightiest people of their time.

Then it speaks of Pharoah standing by the Nile, but the literal Hebrew is “standing over the Nile” Per Etz Chaim, the later Rabbis said this referenced how the Jews serve HaShem, but the Pagans try to control their gods.

Troubled, Pharoah calls the magicians and fortune tellers of his court, but none can explain it. Then the cupbearer recalls his interaction with Yosef and Pharoah summons him. He is given fresh clothes to wear before Pharoah, face and head shaven. Later in verse 42 he is dressed again as his major upgrade in status. He interprets the dreams, seven years of plenty followed by seven of famine, and Yosef gets a new name, Zephenath Paneah, the literal translation is G_d Speaks, He Lives, and a wife as he goes through the land building grain storage silos and supervising the preparations for famine. He bears two sons, Manasseh, and Ephraim.

Well, after the famine begins, people from around the known world come to purchase grain. Including his brothers except Benjamin who stays behind with his father. Yosef recognizes them, but they don’t recognize him. As per his early dreams, they bow low before him. He addresses them harshly, accusing them of conspiring against him. After a night in jail, he says they can go back if one son stays as surety. He tells them they must bring back Benjamin. Shimon (Simeon) is selected to stay behind. They return to Yaakov, telling him all that was said, including finding the money they had paid Pharoah in their bags. Yaakov does not want to send Benjamin back with them. Reuven (Reuben) offers to kill two of his children if something bad happens, but Yaakov pays no attention. What kind of father makes such an offer. Kill his two sons? Seriously? This seems to exclude Reuben from any role of leadership in the family despite his status as first born. After this, we hear no more from Reuben. The stores are depleted. Yaakov says they must return, and he will double the money from before and send additional gifts. Yehudah however speaks up and says they will not return unless Benjamin comes back with them. Going forward it is clear that Yehudah is the leader now.

They return; Yosef sees them with Benjamin and orders the steward to slay a beast and prepare a meal for them all. The brothers tell the steward about the money in their bag, but he says it must be from G_d, for he received payment in full. They enter Yosef’s house and he has them bathed with fresh clothing, then they sit down to eat. Benjamin receives a larger portion. At one point, Yosef leaves to cry then returns to the room. He then provides them with stores. He has money put in their bags, but in Benjamin’s bag, he places his gold goblet. After they leave, the steward rides out, inquiring why would they steal after they were given so much. They must return and the goblet is found in Benjamin’s bag. Josef says they may go, but Benjamin must stay as his slave. The brothers rent their clothing, and the parsha ends.

Our parsha certainly is all about teshuvah. Yosef in his harsh treatment of the brothers force their feelings of the wrong they have done to surface. They begin to feel empathy for the brother they had sold into slavery. Yehudah offers himself responsible for Benjamin, a long cry from the one who so suggested they sell Yosef to the Ishmaelites. The family also seem to have come to accept their father as he is, understanding they are powerless over his inclination to have favorites. Yehudah seems to be the obvious favorite for leadership after Yaakov. Back in the last parsha he showed real growth as a leader when he admitted it was he who was wrong with Tamar.

But let’s get back to the role of clothing and Chanukah. When I was young, I learned that there were ways to present myself for certain roles. For instance, in striving for promotion, looking the part can go aways in helping secure that position. In our parsha, we see Yosef with his coat of many colors, yet it is taken away by his brothers and he is sold into slavery. Later his fine tunic, provided by Potiphar, is stripped away by Potiphar’s wife and her accusation lands him in jail. Then he is dressed to present to Pharoah, and finally garbed as his role as second in command. Or back to Tamar, presenting herself in a cloak to attain her goal. A wonderful commentary written by a woman who calls herself the Velveteen Rabbi offers an interesting perspective. We present outwardly what we know of ourselves inwardly. Illuminating outwardly the divine spark that resides within us.

We present outwardly the light that shines within. At Chanukah, we shine our lights outside the front door or from our windows, symbolic of the light which is the Jewish people. As the light increases over eight days, it is our prayer that our own light grows as well. Over the last few parshat, our characters have grown in many cases, a part of that collective light for our people. May your light shine over these days of our celebration, both with your Chanukiah and within. חג חנוכה שמח Happy Chanukah!