The story of Joseph continues.
As mentioned last week, Pharaoh has 2 dreams and is troubled by them.
The Chief Wine Butler SAR HAMASHKIM remembers Joseph and his ability to interpret dreams as he had done with his.
Pharaoh summons Joseph and repeats his dreams to him.
The dreams foretell a famine in Egypt, therefore prepare to store grain in readiness.
Joseph is appointed Viceroy and in overall charge.
Jacob sends his sons to Egypt to purchase grain and it is then that Joseph sees his brothers for the first time.
He does not know if they have changed their ways and attitude towards him so he hides his true identity and tests them.
He keeps them prisoner for 3 days and then says he will release them all but one while they bring Binyomin the youngest to him.
In this exchange with his brothers he says something strange.
“ Do this and live; I fear G-d”.
Ramban remarks that he has no intention of holding all of them prisoner while their families are starving, allowing them to take provisions home whilst keeping only one of them. He declares his concern for justice and fairness. “ ES HOELOYKIM ANI YORE”
Midrash in Tanchuma comments that when people are poor they fear G-d, however when they become wealthy they place their trust in money and lose their faith..
Joseph was different, he feared G-d as a slave as he said to Potiphar’s wife “ How can I do this great evil?( Against my master who has been good to me) I will have sinned against G-d.” His faith now was even greater now he was Viceroy.
Joseph’s faith was constant throughout but the brothers would not have known this.
To them the Viceroy of Egypt would have been like many rulers the Jews have had to deal with over the years. Openly preaching their devotion to truth, morality and law, letting their actions denote a love of cruelty and hatred. They had reason to distrust Joseph who whilst announcing how ethical he was, subtly reminds them he can have them killed if they did not obey him. “ Do this and live”.
The Shabbat before Purim is Shabbat Parshat Zachor when we are commanded to repeat the verse in Ki Tetze “ Zachor et asher oso lecha amolek bederech bestesechem mimistrayim” Remember what Amalek did to you, on the way you were leaving Egypt, that he happened upon you on the way and he struck those of you who were at the rear, all those who were weak, faint and exhausted, and he did not fear G-d.
The Maddid of Dubno asks why so much credit was given to Joseph for being G-d fearing and why would we expect Amalek a heathen nation to fear G-d, he explains in a moshol.
2 brothers in a town one rich the other poor. The rich brother supported the other and gave him money food and his worn clothes. The poor man could not keep the clothes for long as they became shabby and dirty. The rich brother chastises his sibling for not caring about his clothes. The sibling retorts that all he receives are worn clothes.
The rich brother takes him to a tailor and has new clothes made for him. Before long the clothes become shabby and dirty again. After being admonished by his older brother the poor man comments that it is a fact of nature that poor people wear tatters.
Some weeks later the brothers attend a wedding at which a Badchan, professional jester amused the guests pretending to be a poor man. The older brother points out that the jester’s clothes were neat and tidy.
The brother tells his sibling that this should be an example that tatters are not necessarily part of a life of poverty.
The Maggid points out that as rags are not necessary ingredient of poverty, blatant disregard for the One G-d is not a basic tenent of a non jew.
In regard to Amalek “ He did not fear G-d” his conduct in attacking the rear of the columns of Jews leaving Egypt showed he did not have proper respect for the One G-d, instead of confronting the column head on like any normal foe.
And whilst speaking of brothers let me refer to children and grandchildren and mention something from last week's sedra I did not have time to dwell on last week.Parenting is not an exact science and we parents and grandparents do the best we can. What is important is that we realise that every child has potential and no one child is exactly the same as another. There are two types of love a parent/grandparent have can have towards a child We should not have favourites but there are qualities that we can see differently in children. AHAVA ATZIS is recognising the extra special qualities a child has while AHAVA GASHMISS is the emotional love every parent feels towards their beloved child. The Chanukah lights should remind us of our children and grand children as they burn brightly with enthusiasm. WE must realise that the future is theirs and allow them the freedom to express themselves within the boundaries of love, derech eretz and Halacha.
Now to the candles themselves. The opinion of Hillel of lighting one new light each night of Chanuka until all eight lights are lit reminds us of our history past and present.
Each night we light the newest candle first then the one for the night before.
The light from the night before represents our past history, life’s struggles and persecution at the hands of others. The new candle represents the future, our hopes and aspirations, individually and as a nation.
Each night of Chanuka we renew our faith in the One G-d.
She Oso Nissim Lavowsenu Bayomim Hoheym Bazman Haze
WHO HAS WROUGHT MIRACLES FOR OUR FOREFATHERS, IN THOSE DAYS AT THIS SEASON.
In the Amidah prayer at Modim we give thanks for the daily miracles which Hashem does for us, His wonders and His benefits which are performed at all times, evening, morning, and noon.
May Hashem continue to bless all of Israel with his goodness and miracles and may we continue to “ fear G-d”. Chag Haorim Sameach and Shabbat Shalom from me and TTFN
