Section: Parshas HaShavua Category: Medrash | Medrash Mikeitz - Yavan, Paroh, and Yosef | What was wrong with Paroh exactly? A little Jew boy slave, as the Sar HaMashkim called him, walks out of jail, interprets a dream, and is made vice-king. Come on!
The answer could be explained with a beautiful vort I heard this morning. The Medrash says "Keitz Sam Lachoshech," Keitz refers to Yosef, on whom the pasuk says, "Mikeitz Shnasayim Yamim." Choshech is Yavan, whose culture caused darkness to descend on the world. What is the connection between the two?
The meforshim explain in Vayeishev that Yaakov's extra love for Yosef entailed learning with him the Torah he learned from Shem and Eiver before going to Lavan's house. Yaakov taught this Torah to Yosef specifically, because Yosef had the power to overcome Eisav, like Rashi brings in Vayeitzei (30:25) "Bais Yaakov Aish, Bais Yosef Lehava, UBais Eisav L'Kash." (Ovadia 1:18) Yaakov taught Yosef this special Torah of surviving Galus. More than any of the other Shevatim, Yosef has the unique ability to survive and thrive through difficult times, and come out shining. Yosef can survive the Galus of today, which is still essentially Greek culture albeit under Roman rule.
Paroh, we know, was no ordinary person. He was a very spiritual person, and communicated with the heavens. As Yosef pointed out, this is why Hashem showed him the dreams of the feast and famine. That is how he became King of Mitzrayim. With this power of his, he was very quickly able to discern in Yosef the power of surviving the rough times. After hearing from Yosef about the upcoming hunger and knowing it to be true, he turned to the person who was most capable of pulling Mitzrayim through those dark times until the light would shine again at the end of the tunnel.
I apologize that the passenger who told this vort got off before divulging the source. This vort truly sheds light on the whole episode. May you have a Gut Shabbos, a Guten Chodesh, and a Lichtegen Chanuka!
|
RELATED ARTICLES:galus Mikeitz Paroh Yavan Yosef
Other articles in this category |
|
printable version
