Chasidic Insights

CHASIDIC INSIGHTS PARSHAS MI'KEITZ 5764 BS"D

Ch. 41, v. 1: "Va'y'hi mi'keitz shnosayim yomim uFaroh choleim" - "Va'y'hi" is an expression of sorrow and pain, a phonetic "woe." Woe to the person who at the end, "va'y'hi mi'keitz," of his years and days, "shnosayim yomim" becomes disheveled and distressed, "uFaroh" (as in "ufora es rosh ho'ishoh" (Bmidbar 5:18), and realizes that he has spent his life pursuing a dream, "choleim," and not doing things of lasting value. (Rabbi Avrohom of Mikolayov)

Ch. 41, v. 3,4: "Olose acharei'hen.. vataamode'noh eitzel, Vatochalnoh" - The seven emaciated cows represent the evil inclination. They first rise against a person, "olose," then stand right next to him, "vataamode'noh eitzel," and then finally overpower and swallow him, "vatochalnoh." (Sfas Emes)

Ch. 42, v. 6: "Hu hashalit .. hu hamashbir" - He who breaks his evil inclination, he is the master. (Kedushas Levi)

Ch. 42, v. 6: "Hu hashalit .. hu hamashbir l'chol am ho'oretz" - He who masters over his evil inclination is capable of bringing sustenance for the whole world, as we find by Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa (gemara Taanis 24b and Chulin 86a). (Eitz Hadaas Tov - Rabbi Chaim Vi'tal)

Ch. 41, v. 14: "Va'y'ritzuhu min habore" - Through the merit of Yoseif's considering himself "min habore," of a lowly nature, he merited to "va'y'ritzuhu," that they elevated him. (Degel Machaneh Efrayim)

Ch. 41, v. 16: "Va'yaan Yoseif" - Note Yoseif's extreme humility. He interrupted Paroh and called out in a loud voice, "va'yaan," that the wisdom of divining a dream was not to his credit, but rather a gift from Hashem. (Rabbi Moshe Yechiel of Ozhrov in B'eir Moshe)

Ch. 41, v. 16: "Bilodoy" - It is outside of me. I would prefer to be left out of this and have you deal directly with Hashem, "Elokim yaa'neh es shlome Paroh." (Rabbi Simchoh Bunim of Parshizcha)

Ch. 41, v. 36: "V'hoyoh .." - V'hoyoh," and it will be a great joy if, "ho'ochel l'fikodone lo'oretz," if a person realizes that his sustenance and wealth for his "artzius" existence are only given to him as a safe-keeping, "l'sheva shnei horo'ov asher ti'h'ye'noh b'eretz Mitzroyim," for the seven decades of years that a person suffers physical deprivation on earth, a place of limitations, "v'lo siko'reis ho'oretz boro'ov," and he will not be cut off through hunger during his earthly existence, in the merit of realizing that one's worldly possessions are his for safekeeping only, and not his permanent possession. (Nirreh li)

Ch. 41, v. 46: "Va'yeitzei Yoseif milifnei Faroh" - In spite of all the honours heaped upon Yoseif by Paroh who changed his name to Tzofnas Paa'nei'ach, an Egyptian name, he left the same Yoseif, unaffected by it all. (Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Deizsh in Maaglei Tzedek)

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