By Ozer Alport

Parsha Perspectives

ויהי היום הזה ויבא הביתה לעשות מלאכתו ואין מאנשי הבית שם
(39:11)

רב ושמואל חד אמר מלאכתו ממש וחד אמר לעשות צרכיו עמה אלא שנראית לו דמות דיוקנו של אביו (רש''י)

After being sold by his brothers to a caravan of traveling merchants, Yosef was eventually sold into slavery in Egypt. The wife of his new master Potiphar was impressed by him and tried everything in her power to convince him to sin. She even threatened to imprison and humiliate him, but despite her greatest efforts, the righteous Yosef remained steadfast in his commitment to his morals and refused.

One day, however, his defenses began to crack. Yosef came into the house considering yielding to her threats and tricks. At that crucial moment, his fathers visage appeared to him and warned him about the dire consequences he would face if he did so. This critical reminder from his father about his familys tradition and values served to protect and save him at the height of his personal trial.

Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein relates a beautiful and powerful story about the potency of the impressions we make on our children in their youth. It once happened in a small town in Europe that one of the Jewish children was kidnapped by the church and sent to study in a monastery. All of the emotional, tear-laden cries and pleas of his parents to various government officials fell on deaf ears. The local priest, who was well-connected, simply denied the accusations.

Finally, after years of petitions both to Hashem and to the government a compromise was proposed. The parents would be allowed to spend 5 minutes in a room with this boy. If at the end of that time he chose to leave with them of his own volition, then their claims would be accepted, but if not, it would be considered incontrovertible proof that their story had been completely fabricated. As excited as they were at finally having a chance to obtain justice and get their beloved son back, they were also full of trepidation, as they could only imagine the brainwashing to which he had been subjected during his years in the monastery.

They approached their local Rabbi, known for his commentary Nachal Eshkol, for advice. He promised them that he would accompany them to the fateful meeting, would speak to their son on their behalf, and that they had nothing to fear. Comforting and reassuring as he was, they were still full of anxiety over the meeting and wondering whether the Ravs mysterious plan would work.

On the fateful day, the three of them were led into a small room and found their son sitting across a table from them, glaring at them angrily and showing no signs of recognition. Their hearts dropped. He had been programmed to the point of not remembering his own parents! The parents looked with hope and fear to the Rabbi for guidance. The Rabbi kept his calm and began slowly humming the haunting melody of Kol Nidrei. The parents anxiously looked back at their son, who wasnt flinching and whose expression was as angry as ever. The Rabbi continued, picking up the pace and the volume, but seemingly to no avail as the son remain stone-faced.

The parents, growing desperate, glanced at the clock, as one, two, three precious minutes ticked by. Finally, as they were about to give up all hope, the Rabbi raised his voice further and reached a feverish crescendo. At this point the boy broke down sobbing and ran into his parents welcoming arms, as the unforgettable memories of his past, eternally engraved in his subconscious, brought him home!

We all have beautiful and nostalgic recollections of times we spent with our families while growing up. Recognizing the power of these events to remain indelibly etched in the memories of our children, it behooves us to put both the appropriate time and effort into making sure the lessons and priorities we impart to our children are the proper ones, for they will remain with them for life.

Rabbi Elazar Meisels

Talking Points - Parshas Veyeishev

1. THE LIMITS OF HUMAN COMPREHENSION

"Now, come let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; and we will say that a wild beast devoured him. Then we will see what will become of his dreams." 37-20

"R. Yitzchok said: This verse says: 'Expound upon me.' It is the Divine Spirit that is saying this: They are saying, 'Let us kill him,' but, the verse concludes 'Let us see what will become of his dreams,' [i.e.,] let us see whose words will be fulfilled, yours or Mine?..." - Rashi

The brothers considered Yosefs behavior a threat to the very existence of Klal Yisroel and thus they sought to eradicate the threat. As often happens, they encountered the will of Hashem and didnt recognize that all their machinations to remove the threat would actually set into motion the events that would lead to their salvation during a time of severe famine and ultimately launch Klal Yisroel.

2. Viewing Tragedies with a Wide-Angle Lens

And it was at that time and Yehudah descended from his brothers - 38:1 Rav Shmuel Bar Nachman explained the verse For I [Hashem] know the thoughts [as follows], The brothers were occupied with the sale of Yosef, Yosef and Revuen were occupied with sackcloth and fasting, Yaakov was mourning Yosef with sackcloth and fasting, and [a disgraced] Yehudah was engaged in finding a wife for himself. In the meantime, Hakadosh Baruch Hu was busily readying the light of the Melech HaMoshiach... Medrash Rabbah Bereishis 85:1

While all of the involved parties considered the sale of Yosef a great tragedy and a senseless act of hatred which defied the outer limits of justice and righteousness, backstage, the scene was very different. Hakadosh Baruch Hu orchestrated events perfectly so that even before Yosef landed in Mitzraim, the seeds of the final redemption were already planted. Jewish history teaches us that events must never be viewed from a narrow perspective.

3. Influencing a Child to Resist Sin

Then there was an opportune day when he [Yosef] entered the house to do his work, no man of the household staff present in the house. 39:11

Rav and Shmuel [dispute what this means]: One says...and the other says he intended to have his way with her, but, his fathers image appeared to him, etc., as is stated in Maseches Sotah. Rashi

One is obligated to say, When will my deeds match the deeds of my forefathers? Tanna Dvei Eliyahu Perek 25

Yosef was an impressionable youngster at the time of this story, far from his home, and a slave in a land rampant with immoral behavior. Yet, he withstood the entreaties of Potiphars wife because his fathers example left such an indelible impression upon him. He also realized that as Yaakovs son, he belonged to a great dynasty that he would be forfeiting with his laxness. A successful parent positively influences a childs decisions long after he/she is no longer in the picture.

4. Importance of Identifying as a Jew

I was kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews, and here I have also done nothing that they should have placed me in this dungeon. 40:15

Yosef who proudly described himself as a Hebrew earned the privilege of being buried in Eretz Yisroel. Moshe, however, who referred to himself as an Egyptian when introducing himself to the daughters, did not merit to enter the land. Medrash Rabbah Devarim 2:8

Throughout his tragic ordeal in Egypt, Yosef remained true to his faith and beliefs. One of his means of accomplishing this difficult feat was by refusing to forget his origins and the glorious future they represented. His grandfather Avrahams reputation has spread far and wide, and Yosef never hesitated to let others know that this was path in life and that they could expect him to adhere to a higher standard. Fueled by theirs, and his own personal expectations, Yosef eventually returned to the land from which he had been exiled.

Oil, Electric, Candle: Are They All Created Equal?

Dear Rabbi,
Although I grew up lighting an electric menorah, I have learned that one does not properly fulfill the mitzvah of lighting with an electric menorah and have switched to lighting candles. More recently, I read that lighting with oil is even more ideal. Can you explain the reason for this so that I can share it with my family members who are sure to be curious?
David N.

Dear David, I hope that my detailed response to your excellent question will help clear up some of the uncertainty.

We must first point out that the obligation to light the Menorah contains a special component not commonly found in other mitzvos, pirsumei nissah, publicizing the Chanukah miracle. In lighting the menorah, our sages wanted us to publicize the miracles that transpired, inspiring ourselves and others to absorb their special meaning. The most effective means of accomplishing this is by lighting the Menorah in a manner that is as similar as possible to the way it was lit in the Beis HaMikdash, our Holy Temple. The greater the similarity to the original events, the more stimulated we will be to recount the story and ponder its attendant lessons.

Among the multiple issues raised by contemporary halachic authorities with regard to lighting an electric menorah, is the fact that it is dissimilar in many ways to the original menorah in the Beis HaMikdash. Even if we are to assume that a filament constitutes fire [a basic requirement in menorah lighting], all agree that there is no actual flame, nor does it consume fuel in the manner of an oil or candle menorah. The absence of these two basic elements in an electric menorah is seen as a critical flaw in the act of lighting. Consequently, the widespread custom is to avoid lighting an electric menorah unless no other menorah is available, or in a hospital where lighting an oil or candle menorah is not an option.

Lighting with candles is certainly more ideal since candles have a wick, a flame, and fuel. The candles may be any color so long as they burn for the requisite amount of time. An even better option is to light with oil, ideally olive oil, where the wick, the flame, and the source of fuel is the very same substance that the miracle of Chanukah occurred with. Where olive oil is not available, any oil is still more preferable than candles.

I would like to suggest yet another reason why it may be a good idea to upgrade to an oil menorah if possible. This idea is not based on halachic considerations, but rather, on my experience teaching Jews who have minimal Jewish education, and on how Chanukah is perceived in
modern times.

I once initiated a talk on Chanukah by asking my audience if anyone knew why Chanukah occurs in the middle of winter. A very sincere, middle-aged neurosurgeon raised his hand and suggested that perhaps our sages instituted it as a means of giving Jews something to celebrate while non-Jews celebrate Xmas. Many in the audience nodded their heads in agreement. Disturbing, as this may seem, his response unfortunately typifies the attitude of many American Jews. In their minds, Hanukah, Xmas, and Kwanza, form a trio of holidays that differ only in cultural aspects, but otherwise are quite similar to one another. Gift giving is a near universal custom during this time of year, and of course, we all have holiday songs that create a merry and inviting spirit.

Lost among all the merrymaking is a genuine appreciation for the real reasons we celebrate Chanukah and their inherent spiritual connotations. Tragically, many Jews even seek to increase their joyfulness by incorporating elements of Xmas into their Chanukah routine, thoroughly unaware of the contradictory and paradoxical implications of this.

When one lights with oil instead of using the traditional electric menorah, one takes a significant step closer to the true holiday of Chanukah. When lighting with oil and contemplating why we do so, one begins to identify with the all-important and meaningful themes of the holiday. And if the oil menorah piques the interest of your friends and family and provides you an opportunity to expand upon the real reason we celebrate Chanukah, you will have fulfilled the mitzvah of publicizing the miracle in a most glorious and enviable fashion.

By Ozer Alport

Hey, I never knew that!

Amazing Insights About the Weekly Parsha 

While in jail, the cupbearer had a dream in which he pressed grapes into Pharaohs cup, and the baker had a dream in which he was carrying three baskets on his head and birds were eating food out of them. Yosef told the cupbearer that his dream meant that he would be returned to his original position of serving Pharaoh, while he interpreted the dream of the baker as indicating that he would be killed, both of which came to pass. Where is it alluded to in the content of the dreams that the cupbearer would live while the baker would die?

Rav Elchanon Wasserman explains that in the dream, the baker was standing still with baskets on his head from which the birds were eating, but he himself was inanimate, as opposed to the cup-bearer who was actually squeezing grapes into a cup which he then proceeded to place in Pharaohs hand. The lack of activity on the part of the baker hinted to his status as one marked for death, whereas the cup-bearers productivity indicated that he was still full of life. Rav Avigdor Nebenzahl suggests that the dream of the cup-bearer indicates his dedication to his master and serving him, as even in his dreams he is thinking about squeezing grapes and serving Pharaoh, whereas the bakers dream reveals his lack of devotion to his job, as the birds are eating Pharaohs food out of the basket on top of his head and he takes no action to try to stop this.

While the rest of the brothers were plotting to actually kill Yosef, Reuven saved him by suggesting that they instead throw him into a pit, yet Rashi tells us (37:24) that the pit was full of poisonous snakes and scorpions. In what way was this considered saving Yosef? It would seem more accurate to describe his suggestion as substituting one type of death with another.

The Ohr HaChayim HaKadosh explains that while human beings have free choice and the ability to do to someone even something which wasnt decreed upon him in Heaven, animals have no free choice and are limited to what-ever was decided by Hashem. Reuven knew that Yosef wasnt the wicked pursuer that the rest of his brothers thought he was, and was therefore confident that death hadnt been decreed upon him. Nevertheless, he feared that his brothers, with their free choice, would succeed in their plans to kill Yosef, so he saved him by having him thrown into a pit where he knew the snakes and scorpions would have no permission to harm him. (See Panim Yafos and Tosefos Rid for alternate answers)

How did Yosef know to interpret the 3 branches and 3 baskets seen in the dreams of the cupbearer and baker to refer to events which would transpire in 3 days, while in the beginning of next weeks Parsha he understands that the 7 stalks and 7 cows in Pharaohs dreams correspond to 7 years? Perhaps the dreams of his cell-mates referred to 3 years, and Pharaohs to 7 days?

The Paneiach Raza answers that Yosef knew that Pharaohs birthday was in 3 more days and it was reasonable to assume that this would bring about the fulfillment of the dreams of the cupbearer and beaker. Pharaohs dreams, on the other hand, referred to agricultural conditions, which arent likely to change over a period of 7 weeks or even 7 months, and he therefore concluded that they referred to 7 years.

Parsha Talk: For discussion around the Shabbos Table

If you or your guests come up with an original answer, please forward it to parsha@partnersintorah.org

1) In the special paragraph added to the prayers on Chanukah, we thank Hashem for the miracles, the salvation, the mighty deeds, the victories, and the wars which He performed for our ancestors at this time of the year. Although we are appreciative for the Divine assistance which allowed our forefathers to triumph, why do we thank Hashem for the actual wars, which we would seemingly prefer to have avoided altogether?

2) How could the great Yaakov love one of his sons more than the others, and why did he show this favoritism publicly, thereby generating tremendous sibling rivalry and friction?

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