This Week’s Torah Portion: Mikeitz – מִקֵּץ (Genesis 41:1−44:17)
The story of Joseph and his brothers became a Broadway musical. It shows how dramatic is the story, maybe the biggest drama in Genesis.
In his youth, Joseph is a dreamer, and foolish enough to tell his brothers he was dreaming about being their ruler.
The drama is that by trying to prevent Joseph from fulfilling his dreams, by selling him as a slave, the brothers actually ensured the dreams would be fulfilled.
But there is a much bigger drama in this story. Joseph is the only person in Genesis that manages to change. The annoying spoiled teenager, the dreamer, becomes the saver of the world, and the second in command in the biggest empire in the world. He literally saves Egypt and the rest of the world, including his own family, from famine.
Change is so difficult, especially changing who we are, the way we act, Joseph manages to change who he is, and becomes what he ought to be. He manages to overcome his own faults, and by that he manages to help create a better world!
Parsha Mikeitz Torah Summary:
Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s two dreams and predicts seven years of prosperity followed by seven years of famine. (41:1-32)
Pharaoh places Joseph in charge of food collection and distribution. (41:37-49)
Joseph marries Asenath, and they have two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. (41:50-52)
When Joseph’s brothers come to Egypt to buy food during the famine, Joseph accuses them of spying. He holds Simeon hostage while the rest of the brothers return to Canaan to retrieve Benjamin for him. (42:3-42:38)
The brothers return to Egypt with Benjamin and for more food. Joseph continues the test, this time falsely accusing Benjamin of stealing and declaring that Benjamin must remain his slave. (43:1-44:17)
