VAYIGASH 44:18-47:27

 

VAYIGASH 44:18 - 47:27

 

The Parshah opens at 44:18 with Yehuda’s speech to Joseph.  It is the longest speech in the Chumash, lasting for 16 verses.  Yehuda says אָבִי “my Father” 14 times.  Which "Father" is this?

 Whether he knows it or not, Yehuda is doing T’sheuvah.  Twenty two years ago, Yehuda was willing to make some money by selling his brother into slavery.  Now, he is willing to put himself into slavery for the sake of his Father…a similar set of circumstances, but now with a lofty outcome.  He is a changed man and our leader.  And as a reasonable consequence we are called the "Yehudi", the Jews.

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At 44:33-34, Why does Joseph want his brothers to say to Pharaoh that they are shepherds, an occupation abhorrent to Egyptians, so that the family may settle in the area called Goshen? 

Rabbi Etshalom supplies an answer to this question: He is of the opinion that Joseph has pragmatic foresight.  Joseph is thinking that our family and our Tribe have a particularly unique mission, and we are coming into a land that has core values different from us.  In the long run it will be advantageous that we are always seen as foreigners, always seen as the “Other” and always seen as separate and worthy of separation. 

Living in Goshen you will be kept foreign and distant from the rest of the population so that assimilation will be impossible or relatively unlikely.

Today the Land of Israel fulfills that purpose.  It does and will continue to do just that.

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MAX’S PARSHAT VAYIGASH & 10th TEVES FAST QUIZ QUESTIONS

Max has come up with a quiz that relates to the Parshat Vayigash Torah reading and the 10^th Day of Teves.  Here are his questions.  Did you do your best?

Answers appear at the end of this post.

Stay Inside; Stay Safe and Stay Healthy.  Wear your mask.

Shabbat shalom and an easy Fast,

Mick

1-What are the 3-different meanings of the word Yayigash?

2-What were Judah's 3-Main objectives in dialogue with Yosef ?

3-When did music and song play a role in someone living forever?

4-Why did Judah merit the Kingship of our nation?

5-In what merit did Yosef become such a great ruler ?

6-Why did HaShem grant Yosef righteous sons ?

7-How many descendants were born to Dan׳s deaf son Chushim ?

8-Who was born when Jews came to Egypt & died when they left ?

9-Which Berachos did Jacob say when he was reunited with Yosef ?

10-Why don't Torah scholars have to pay city Taxes for security ?

11-Who was The Greatest Real-Estate agent in History ?

12-Why did Jacob live 33-years less than his Father YITZCHAK?

13-Where is Serach BAS Asher today ?

14-Why did the Egyptians worship Sheep ?

15-How many times were there Famines throughput the entire world ?

16-What must a city have before a Torah Scholar can move there?

17-During their dialogue , Yosef & Judah were compared to what ?

18-Which brother acted like a Lawyer ?

19-Why did the predicted 7-Year Famine only lasted 2-Years ?

20-Who was the 71st one to travel down to Egypt with Jacob ?

21-How did Yosef reveal his secret identity to his Brothers?

22-Why didn't Yosef want to show his stronger Brothers to Pharaoh ?

23-Why did Judah have to offer himself as a slave to the Viceroy ?

24-Which sin caused Yosef Brothers to Hate Him ?

25-Which people discovered Yosef's Treasures ?

26-Why do we fast on the 10 of TEVET ?

27-When is it this year and what is its duration ?

28-Who is exempt from fasting on 10-TEVET?

29-Which special prayers are inserted for the Fast Day?

30-What are the other 4-Communal Fast Days ordained by Chazal ?

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At 46:2, in referring to the Patriarch Jacob by name,  Hashem uses both “Israel” and “Jacob”.

וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים לְיִשְׂרָאֵל בְּמַרְאֹת הַלַּיְלָה, וַיֹּאמֶר יַעֲקֹב יַעֲקֹב; וַיֹּאמֶר, הִנֵּנִי.

“And God said to Israel in visions of the night, and He said, "Jcob, Jacob!" And he said, "Here I am."

What is the significance of each name?  And Jacob twice?  This is not the 1^st time that Jacob had a vision.

And is a vision of the night a dream or something else? 

What does הִנֵּנִי  signify?

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At 46:17 we learn about the children of Asher.  His Mother was Zillah.  She was Leah’s handmaiden. Asher had a daughter.  Her name was Serach, שֶׂ֣רַח.  It is unusual for a woman to be mentioned by name in the Chumash. And we know nothing more about her. 

However there are many Midrashim praising her beauty, intelligence and amazing longevity.  She even helped Moses fulfill the obligation to bury Joseph’s bones in Israel. If you look at Serach’s name, and end it with the open letter Hay, it resembles the name Sarah.  Seal the letter Hay with the letter Yud, a representation of Hashem and you are back to Serach.

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                                  “Long Live King Mashiach”

There is a custom not to study Torah on Christmas eve. The custom is called Nittel Nacht.

"Nittel" is Yiddish for Christmas.   It is derived from the Latin natalis or maybe the Hebrew nitleh, the hanged one.  Considering that Jesus is one of us, the most famous Jew of all time, this custom very popular with Chabad seems inappropriate. 

And tongue in cheek:  Maybe it is a matter of competition if your choice for the Messiah is a dead Rebbe.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nittel_Nacht?wprov=sfla1    

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This Friday is the 10^th day of the month of Teves.  On this day in the year 588 BCE the forces of the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar  laid siege to Jerusalem.  It is observed as a day of mourning and begins on Friday morning at daybreak. 

This is an unusual occurrence, last happening in 2013.  During the Mincha afternoon service, a Torah and Haftarah portion is read.  In Israel, relatives of victims of the Holocaust whose yahrzeits is unknown, observe the traditional yahrzeit practices for the deceased.  These include lighting a memorial candle, learning mishnayot and reciting the kaddish.

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The Haftorah portion for Parshat Vayigash is from the Prophet Ezekiel (יְחֶזְקֵאל ) 37:15-28.  In it Hashem commands Ezekiel to take two wooden sticks and write on one some words that signify the Kingdom of Judah, and on the other some words that represent the Northern Kingdom.  He is then to join the two sticks together, in an meaningful symbolic gesture once more uniting the entire nation of Israel. 

The symbolism is meaningful.  Ezekiel prophesied shortly before the fall of the First Temple, probably around 598 BCE.  From the preceding verses he was staunchly anti-Egyptian. At the time of his writing the Northern Kingdom was no more, and the Kingdom of Judah was in imminent danger of being destroyed.

First of all: why use wood?  What inferences may be drawn from using wooden sticks?

Wood is a readily handy material, somewhat durable. Unlike clay or metal or stone, wood requires little preparation and is more durable than papyrus or parchment.  Alternatively: Hashem knows what he is doing.

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MAX’S PARSHAT VAYIGASH & 10th TEVES FAST

QUIZ QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

BS”D

Olim:

Max has come up with a quiz that relates to the Parshat Vayigash Torah reading and the 10^th Day of Teves.  Here are his questions and answers.  How did you do?

Stay Inside; Stay Safe and Stay Healthy.  Wear your mask.

Shabbat shalom and an easy Fast,

Mick

1-What are the 3-different meanings of the word Vayigash?

1-Judgement, 2-Reconciliation, 3-War

> 2-What were Judah's 3-Main objectives in dialogue with Yosef ?

1-Assuage Yosef anger in words

2-Demand his rights on a Legal Basis

3-Take BINYAMIN back by Force

> 3-When did music and song play a role in someone living forever?

Serach, Asher's daughter, singing to Jacob that Yosef was still alive

> 4-Why did Judah merit the Kingship of our nation?

Judah was willing to fight for the benefit of others

> 5-In what merit did Yosef become such a great ruler ?

Yosef kept the Mitzvots & guarded his Brit Milah

> 6-Why did HaShem grant Yosef righteous sons ?

As a proof of Yosef's Kedushah, HaShem granted him righteous sons

> 7-How many descendants were born to Dan׳s deaf son Chushim ?

Astonishing 64,400 descendants came out from Dan's deaf son

> 8-Who was born when Jews came to Egypt & died when they left ?

Iyov was born when Jews went into Egypt & died 210 years later, Exodus

> 9-Which Berachos did Jacob say when he was reunited with Yosef ?

Shehechianu, Mechayei Hameisim, Hatov V'Hameitiv

> 10-Why don't Torah scholars have to pay city Taxes for security ?

It is really in their Merit that protect everyone else

> 11-Who was The Greatest Real-Estate agent in History ?

Yosef managed all the land in the World

> 12-Why did Jacob live 33-years less than his Father YITZCHAK?

Jacob sounded pessimistic using 33-Words to explain his life to Pharaoh

> 13-Where is Serach BAS Asher today ?

Serach eventually went into Gan Eden Alive, from Jacob blessing

> 14-Why did the Egyptians worship Sheep ?

Many stars formed the shape of a sheep, they assumed it was godly

> 15-How many times were there Famines throughput the entire world ?

Ten times there were hungers throughout the entire world, historical fact

> 16-What must a city have before a Torah Scholar can move there?

Yeshiva, Teacher, Beis Din, Shochet, Mohel, Sofer, Gabbai, Doctor

> 17-During their dialogue , Yosef & Judah were compared to what ?

Judah to a Lion , and Yosef to a Bull

> 18-Which brother acted like a Lawyer ?

Judah passionately defended all of BINYAMIN Rights

> 19-Why did the predicted 7-Year Famine only lasted 2-Years ?

When Jacob came down to Egypt, the Hunger stopped in his Merit

> 20-Who was the 71st one to travel down to Egypt with Jacob ?

YOCHEVED, OR HASHEM

> 21-How did Yosef reveal his secret identity to his Brothers?

Yosef spoke Lashone HaKodesh, and showed them his Brit Milah

> 22-Why didn't Yosef want to show his stronger Brothers to Pharaoh ?

Yosef did not want Pharaoh to draft his brothers into the Military

> 23-Why did Judah have to offer himself as a slave to the Viceroy ?

He was the one responsible for BINYAMIN safety to Jacob

> 24-Which sin caused Yosef Brothers to Hate Him ?

Lashon Hara that caused the Brothers hate against Yosef

> 25-Which people discovered Yosef's Treasures ?

1st-By Korach, 2nd -By Antonius Ben Asvirus, 3rd-Will be by Mashiach

> 26-Why do we fast on the 10 of TEVET ?

The day upon which Nebuchadnezzar initiated the siege around Jerusalem

> 27-When is it this year and what is its duration ?

This year the Fast is on Friday , December 25th, from Sunrise to Sunset

> 28-Who is exempt from fasting on 10-TEVET?

Pregnant Mothers, nursing Mothers, the ill , and the Elderly

> 29-Which special prayers are inserted for the Fast Day?

Torah is read morning & Afternoon, Aneinu is added to Shema Koleinu

> 30-What are the other 4-Communal Fast Days ordained by Chazal ?

3-Tishrei, 17-Tamuz, 9-AV, 13-Adar 

 

MIKETZ 41:1-44:17, CHANUKAH

 MIKETZ 41:1-44:17, CHANUKAH

Among other things we learn in Parshat Miketz:

Joseph's prison time ends when he interprets Pharaoh's dreams.

Pharaoh appoints Joseph governor of Egypt.

Pharaoh gives Joseph an Egyptian name, Zaphenath-Pa’neach.

Joseph marries Asenath; they have two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

Famine spreads throughout the region, and food can be obtained only in Egypt.

Ten of Joseph’s brothers come to Egypt to purchase grain; Joseph recognizes his brothers, but they do not recognize him.

There is a lot of back and forth manipulation by Joseph about the brothers being accused as spies, the holding of hostages, accusation of theft and the need for Joseph to see Benjamin.

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Is there a connection between the Parshah and Chanukah?  I think so.

It has to do with the danger of assimilation when a person lives outside the Land of Israel. 

Consider the renaming of Joseph and his marriage to Asenath:

The marriage of Joseph and Asenath

וַיִּקְרָא פַרְעֹה שֵׁם-יוֹסֵף, צָפְנַת פַּעְנֵחַ, וַיִּתֶּן-לוֹ אֶת-אָסְנַת בַּת-פּוֹטִי פֶרַע

כֹּהֵן אֹן, לְאִשָּׁה

“And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnath Paaneah and he gave him to wife Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On.” (41:45).

This marriage sends a message to Egyptians that Joseph is now “one of them.” It indicates that Pharaoh fully accepts Joseph and he was to be integrated into the Egyptian court as well as the Egyptian way of life.

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Egyptian Goddess Neith

What does Zaphnath Paanea צָפְנַת פַּעְנֵחַ and Asneth mean?

Zaphnath Paanea צָפְנַת פַּעְנֵחַ possibly means "the god speaks [and] he lives".

 נַת may be a reference to the Egyptian deity Neith.  She was an early ancient Egyptian deity who was said to be the first and the prime creator, the creator of the universe.

Aseneth’s name is derived from the Ancient Egyptian meaning she belongs to Neith".

There are some other renaming occurring in the Chumash other than the renaming of Joseph:

• ·        Early on, Hashem changed Sarah’s and Abraham’s names.

• ·        Joseph’s father was renamed by the Angel that he wrestled with.

• ·        Much later on, Pharaoh’s daughter will give Moses an Egyptian name.·        Moses changed Joshua’s name.

I think that the name changing as a connection to the destiny of the individual.  What do you think?

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Was this Pharaoh a Hykso?

I think so.  The Hyksos were Semitic people who invaded Egypt, maybe as far back as the 18^th century BCE.  They conquered northern Egypt and established a kingdom there in the Nile delta.  The illustration above was adapted from an Egyptian mosaic. It shows Hyksos to have a distinctive dress that differed from ethnic Egyptians.  They carry weapons.

The Hyksos period in Egyptian history marks the first time in which Egypt was ruled by foreign rulers.

One of the earliest kings was named Khyan and he is thought to have Amorite roots.  We are familiar with the Amorite kings Og and Sichon who were defeated by Moses.  Khyan may have been the Pharaoh that released Joseph from prison, but that is conjecture.

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MAX’S PARSHAT MIKETZ  & CHANUKAH QUIZ QUESTIONS

Max has come up with a quiz that relates to the Parshat Miketz Torah portion and the Festival of Chanukah.  Here are his questions.  Did you do your best?

Answers are found at the end of this post.

Stay Inside; Stay Safe and Stay Healthy.  Wear your mask.

Chodesh tov, Shabbat shalom and Chag Sameach,

1-Why was Yosef originally imprisoned for 10-Years ?

2-How are the miracles of CHANUKA hinted in Prashas MIKEITZ ?

3-How are the Sar Hamashkim (Chief Bartender) similar to Haman ?

4-What motivated the Chief Bartender to speak up to Pharaoh ?

5-what did the Fat Cows being eating symbolize ?

6-What was significant about Pharaoh dreamed repeatedly?

7-How did Pharoah know that Yosef had Ruach HaKodesh?

8-What does Yosef Name "Tsafnat Panayach" mean ?

9-How many years did Yosef reigned in Egypt ?

10-What did Pharoah mean by referring to Yosef as an Avreich?

11-What did Yosef require Egyptians to do before buying Grain?

12-What is significant of using REDU, instead of LECHU by Jacob ?

13-What pretext did Yosef use to accuse Brothers as Spies ?

14-Why did the Brothers use the 10-Gates to enter Egypt?

15-Who was the interpreter used between Yosef and his Brothers ?

16-Why did Yosef put only Shimon in prison ?

17-How did Reuven try to persuade Jacob to send BINYAMIN with him ?

18-Why did Yosef call his first son "Menashe"?

19-Why was Shevet Menashe split into two upon entering the Land ?

20-In what way did Yosef hold like Beis Shamai rather than Beis Hillel ?

21-How do we see that ignoring Kibud AV V'Eim shortens one's lifespan?

22-Why did all Ten Brothers have to go to Mitzrayim?

23-Which other famous TZADDIKIM were imprisoned and Why ?

24-Why did Yosef first arrest all ten Brothers for three days ?

25-Which other slave other than Yosef rise to Royalty ?

26-How old was BINYAMIN when his brother Yosef was taken away ?

27-What did Jacob send to the mighty ruler Tzofnas Paneiyach ?

28-What warning did Jacob give his sons about Wealth ?

29-why are Yosef's descendants protected from Ayin Hara ?

30-Why does Parashas MIKEITZ is read during CHANUKA?

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Think about this:

One of the reasons that Chanukah, a Festival initiated by the Rabbis, is so very special is that of all our Festivals, Chanukah is the only one that took place in the Land of Israel.  All the others initially took place outside of Israel in either Egypt, Jordan, or Iran.

The Chanukah revolt started in the village of Modi’in where Mattathias and his five sons lived.  A Senior Citizens can travel to Modi’in from Nahariya by train for a round trip fare of 48 shekels.  Travel is direct, no changing, and takes 2 ½ hours. Go back to your roots.  Modi'n has the highest IDF enlistment rate of any city in all of Israel.

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CHANUKAH NATIONALISM

On Chanukah Jews the worldwide, usually children but not always play a game with a 4-sided spinning top called a Dreidel דרײדל‎ in Yiddish and Sevivon סביבון in Hebrew.

There is a Hebrew letter printed on each of the dreidel's four sides. 

These four letters form the acronym of the phrase:

נס גדול היה  שם

“Nes Gadol Hayah Sham”

 "a great miracle happened there," a reference made by Jews living outside of Israel to the Chanukah miracle that transpired within the Land of Israel.

In Israel, however the reference is modified to “a great miracle happened here, substituting the Hebrew letter Pay פ for the letter Shin ש on the Sevivon…not there, but here.

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A special commemorative section is added to the Amidah prayer and the Grace After Meals during the eight days of Chanukah and also during Purim.   Both Festivals are extra-Biblical holidays. The added special section has the effect of commemorating the Festival.

However on Purim we read the Megillah of Esther and we also have a festive meal.  On Chanukah we light candles, but we do not read from a special Book nor do we eat a festive meal.

I wonder why?  My guess is that when the Maccabees were fighting against the Greek-Syrians they were also fighting against fellow Jews…Jews killing Jews, something not to celebrate.

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RAV KOOK ON CHANUKAH (Adapted from Chanan Morrisson)

The Jewish Home

The conflict between the Maccabees and the Hellenists was not just a military struggle for political independence. The essence of the conflict was ideological, a clash between widely divergent cultures. Greek culture emphasized the joys of life, physical pleasures, and the uninhibited expression of human imagination in art and literature. As a result, the Hellenists fought against the Torah of Israel, with its focus on purity and sanctity.

One aspect of the mitzvah of lighting Chanukah lights is quite unusual. Unlike most mitzvot, the obligation to light is not on the individual but on the home (איש וביתו). Only if one wishes to fulfill the mitzvah more fully does every member of the household light. Why is this?

The average Jew may not exemplify the ideals and beliefs of the Torah in his everyday life. But in his family life, one may sense the special light of Israel. Purity, modesty, and other holy traits are manifest in every Jewish home faithful to a Torah lifestyle. Therefore, the basic obligation of Chanukah lights — which represent Judaism’s victory over the corrupting influences of Greek culture — is not on the individual, but the home: ish uveito, איש וביתו.

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 Jewish Nationalism (adapted from Chanan Morrison)

To question whether Jewish nationalism is a genuine Torah value reveals a superficial knowledge of Torah. The real question is whether the ultimate Divine goal is quantitative — the elevation of all of humanity through Israel and its Torah — or qualitative — the incomparable segulah quality of Israel.

In a metaphor Rabbi Yehudah HaLevi’s sees Israel as the “heart among the nations.  Is the heart subservient to the other organs of the body, as it provides them with life-giving blood? Or is the heart the central organ, protected and sustained by the rest of the body? Both of these positions are legitimate; “Both views are the words of the Living God” (Babylonian Talmud Eiruvin 13b).

This is the basis for a true understanding of nationalism in Israel. It transcends the usual form of nationalism as it is found among other nations. This unique national love is based on the ultimate Divine goal that can only be fulfilled through the Jewish people. While Jewish nationalism contains elements common to regular nationalism, it is of a completely different order.

(Silver from the Land of Israel. pp. 120-125)

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THE NEGLECT OF JEWISH HEROINES

 

Are Women obligated to light the Chanukah Menorah? After all they played a major role in making the Chag happen.

First, the Halachah (adapted from Reuven Spolter, Women and Chanukah Lighting):

· Single women and widows who do not live in a household with an adult must certainly light Chanukah candles on their own.

· If one's husband is not home to light, a woman must light for the household.

 · Regarding married women lighting for themselves, I'll leave you with Rav Aaron Lichtenstein's (Rosh Yeshivah and Halachic authority) words:

In the house of Rav Soloveitchik of blessed memory, it was the custom that the women did light, and that is how I practice in my house. As we have seen, according to the simple Halachah, women have the identical obligation to light as men. He who is of the opinion that the law is different – let him bring proof to support his position.

Women have a connection to Chanukah because of Judith, the heroine of the Book of Judith. This is an apocryphal book.  It has exactly the same status as the Books of the Maccabees.  Judith is a Jewish woman who single-handedly saves her people by killing an enemy general, Holofornes.  She is part and parcel of the victory of the Maccabean revolt. Judith represents the heroism of women throughout Jewish history. By celebrating her, we remedy the neglect of Jewish heroines.

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MAX’S PARSHAT MIKETZ  & CHANUKAH QUIZ QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Max has come up with a quiz that relates to the Parshat Miketz Torah portion and the Festival of Chanukah.  Here are his questions and answers.  How did you do?

1-Why was Yosef originally imprisoned for 10-Years ?

Speaking Lashon Hara about his ten Righteous Brothers, 1-Year each

> 2-How are the miracles of CHANUKA hinted in Prashas MIKEITZ ?

Just as weak thin cows & wheat overcame the fat ones, Jews will overcome

> 3-How are the Sar Hamashkim (Chief Bartender) similar to Haman ?

Neither the Chief Bartender nor Haman wanted Jews to be promoted

> 4-What motivated the Chief Bartender to speak up to Pharaoh ?

For security reasons, he wanted to protect his Job.

> 5-what did the Fat Cows being eating symbolize ?

That the all the Joy of The plentiful years will be forgotten.

> 6-What was significant about Pharaoh dreamed repeatedly?

It showed that the seven good years to start immediately

> 7-How did Pharoah know that Yosef had Ruach HaKodesh?

Yosef knew all the real facts about the two Dreams

> 8-What does Yosef Name "Tsafnat Panayach" mean ?

He who explain things that are hidden and obscure

> 9-How many years did Yosef reigned in Egypt ?

Yosef reigned for 80-Years, longest in history

> 10-What did Pharoah mean by referring to Yosef as an Avreich?

Young in years but old in Wisdom

> 11-What did Yosef require Egyptians to do before buying Grain?

Become Circumcised

> 12-What is significant of using REDU, instead of LECHU by Jacob ?

The Gematria of REDU 210 , the amount of years  Jews will stay in Egypt

> 13-What pretext did Yosef use to accuse Brothers as Spies ?

The Brothers entered Egypt through 10 gates

> 14-Why did the Brothers use the 10-Gates to enter Egypt?

To search for Yosef

> 15-Who was the interpreter used between Yosef and his Brothers ?

Yosef's son Menashe

> 16-Why did Yosef put only Shimon in prison ?

Because Shimon was the one to cast Yosef into the Pit

> 17-How did Reuven try to persuade Jacob to send BINYAMIN with him ?

He said "kill my 2-sons if I fail to bring BINYOMIN back safely"

> 18-Why did Yosef call his first son "Menashe"?

To thank HaShem for making him forget his suffering and loneliness

> 19-Why was Shevet Menashe split into two upon entering the Land ?

Menashe caused the Shevatim to tear their cloth in grief when arrested

> 20-In what way did Yosef hold like Beis Shamai rather than Beis Hillel ?

Yosef held like Beis Shamai that you fulfill Piryah V'riyah with 2-Boys

> 21-How do we see that ignoring Kibud AV V'Eim shortens one's lifespan?

During dialogue with the Brothers , Yosef did not defend honor of his father

> 22-Why did all Ten Brothers have to go to Mitzrayim?

To form a Minyan so they could pray to HaShem for His Help

> 23-Which other famous TZADDIKIM were imprisoned and Why ?

Avraham, Moshe, Akiva, Ma'Haram M'Rotenberg, & Baal HaTanya

They could not be swayed from the service of HaSHem

> 24-Why did Yosef first arrest all ten Brothers for three days ?

Kaparah for 3-things:,undressing him, throwing him into pit, selling him

> 25-Which other slave other than Yosef rise to Royalty ?

Haman was also a slave before being raised to royal position

> 26-How old was BINYAMIN when his brother Yosef was taken away ?

BINYAMIN was nine years old when Yosef was kidnapped

> 27-What did Jacob send to the mighty ruler Tzofnas Paneiyach ?

A letter warning The Viceroy not to distress his Family, protected by G-d

> 28-What warning did Jacob give his sons about Wealth ?

Jews to live humbly & modestly, do not flaunt your wealth

> 29-why are Yosef's descendants protected from Ayin Hara ?

Yosef did not sin with his eyes, his descendants are spared from evil eye

> 30-Why does Parashas MIKEITZ is read during CHANUKA?

There are 2,025 words in this Parsha, 250= נר xtimes 8= 2,000

And the date of CHANUKA is 25th of Kislev