Miketz/Hanukah 8

In the Ethics of the Fathers our Sages advise us that in a place where there is no man one should strive to be a man. What is the meaning of this statement? Surely one should always strive to be a mensch in whatever situation you live? Should your efforts to fulfil your potential depend to such an extent only on your environment and not on your will? An explanation of this idea may be found in this week’s Parshah. In interpreting Pharaoh's dreams Joseph seems to go beyond his remit. He not only tells Pharaoh the meaning of his dreams but gives him advice as to what he should do. Furthermore he seems to be blowing his own trumpet. Not only should Pharaoh take action to avert starvation in the coming famine but he should appoint a suitable person to do so. Who might that be if not Joseph himself? Indeed some commentators say that putting himself forward was exactly what Joseph was doing in giving this advice. Surely that is the height of arrogance and exactly the sort of behaviour that got the teenage Joseph in trouble in the first place. Yet this view of things misses the point. Joseph understands from Pharaoh’s dreams that grave danger faces the land. G-d is telling Pharaoh this for a purpose. Joseph thus explains to Pharaoh the necessary course of action arising out of the message contained in his dreams. He also understands that without the right man to take charge of this process it could go astray with disastrous consequences. He knows within himself that he can do the job. He thus subtly puts himself forward. Pharaoh takes the hint and the rest is history. Joseph is not however being arrogant in this approach. He is rather responding to the needs of the time in a way that he knows that possibly only he can. After all, all of Pharaoh’s advisors have until now missed the point. Only Joseph got it and therefore to not put himself forward would be a dereliction of duty. He was being a man in a place where there were no men. In a similar fashion the Maccabees, who were priests not soldiers, took upon themselves the physical defence of Judaism at a time no one else was prepared to. They understood that, despite their priestly status, it was necessary to step up to the plate and do the job. This is the meaning of our Sages’ advice. We must know our own strengths and not let false modesty or fear prevent us from leading when that is necessary. In a place or time where we have the necessary skills to act we must not be overly humbly but do what we were born to do. That is a lesson from those days for these times.

ALIYAH BY ALIYAH SYNOPSIS 

Rishon	Pharaoh has dreams he can‘t understand and calls Joseph to interpret them.
Sheni	Joseph explains that 7 years of plenty will be followed by 7 years of famine, so food should be hoarded.
Shelishi	Pharaoh makes Joseph his Vizier and he marries and has children while putting his program into action.
Revi’i	The famine begins and Joseph’s brothers go to Egypt to buy food. He accuses them of being spies.
Chamishi	Joseph imprisons Shimon and demands they bring him Benjamin. Reluctantly Jacob agrees.
Shishi	Joseph is overcome upon seeing Benjamin.
Shevi’i	After eating lunch together, Joseph hides his goblet in Benjamin’s sack, so he is then accused of theft.
Maftir	The Princes’ offering for the 8th – 12th day of the Dedication of the Tabernacle. The Menorah.
Haftorah	I Kings: 7;40-50: The vessels of Solomon’s Temple.

Sidra Statistics

Parshat Miketz

·         has 146 verses ;

·         is the 10th in Genesis, 10th in the Torah

·         5th longest in Genesis, 7th longest in the Torah

·         has no mitzvot.