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Monday, December 14, 2020

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 18th 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


 

 


 

 



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