Text message Miketz

Parashat Miketz (At the end of two years)

Pharaoh dreams two dreams. Easy to interpret, but none of his magicians were right in the interpretation.

Then comes Joseph, who has the correct interpretation. Pharaoh says: That is the right one.

How did Pharaoh know that was "the one"?

One nice explanation is that when Pharaoh dreamed, together with the dream he got the explanation of the dream. When he woke up he only remembered the dreams but not the explanations.

Joseph's explanation coincided with the explanation Pharaoh already knew but forgot.

Sometimes reminders are as good as new explanations.

We need to be thankful with those who teach us and to those who refresh our memory, too.

In memory of my beloved mother and teacher Miriam Rachel bat Israel Itzchak Z"L

Shabbat Shalom and Happy Hanukah 

Text message Vayeshev

Parashat Vayeshev (and he sat down)

Jacob gives Joseph a wonderful garment, a Ktenonet pasim.

Many interpretations were given to that word. A tunic with stripes, a tunic with long sleeves, a colorful tunic.

Was this what Joseph needed?

Jacob's family was a family of cowboys. They had cattle; therefore, the tunic was not really appropriate to working in the field. And, in fact, Joseph ends up dreaming about stalks of grain and not about cattle.

Jacob's intention was, probably, to "help" Joseph to become the firstborn without suffering as he did.

Sometimes we have to understand that what we want is not what our kids need...

In memory of my beloved mother and teacher Miriam Rachel bat Israel Itzchak Z"L

Vayishlach Text message

Parahsat Vayishlach (and Jacob sent)

The Torah speaks about a character who will only appear in this section and will not appear again.

Dvorah was the wet-nurse of Rivkah.

The Torah tells us that she died and was buried in a place called Alon Bachut, the oak of weeping. That is all the information we have.

Why do you think the Torah is telling us this?

Great question, because most of the commentators do not have a good answer.

Dvorah was important when Rivkah was a little girl and Rivkah didn’t forget. Imagine what a wet nurse could have done in those days after she got old? Probably nothing.

The verse that speaks about Dvorah teaches us we never have to forget those who helped us in our life.

In memory of my beloved mother and teacher Miriam Rachel bat Israel Itzchak Z"L