Torah Tidbits

8 February 2012 / 15 Shevat 5772
Issue 0888
Issue 888 - Parashat Mikeitz 5770
December 17, 2009

Parsha Points to Ponder

Parsha Points to Ponder for Mikeitz

By Rabbi Dov Lipman

1) Why does the Torah relate that Par’o told HIS DREAM (CHALOMO) to his magicians, in the singular, but then relate that Par’o's magicians could not explain THEM (OTAM), in the plural (41:8)?
2) Why does Yosef use the words THE LAND OF EGYPT (B’CHOL ERETZ MITZRAYIM) when referring to the years of plenty (41:29 and 30) while saying THE LAND when speaking about the famine (41:30 and 31)?
3) Yosef advises Par’o to appoint a CHACHAM and NAVON to lead Egypt through the years ahead. Why did Yosef use two words to describe a wise man?

Parsha Points to Ponder is prepared by Rabbi Dov Lipman, who teaches at Reishit Yerushalayim and Machon Maayan in Beit Shemesh and is the author of “DISCOVER: Answers for Teenagers (and adults) to Questions about the Jewish Faith” (Feldheim) and “TIMEOUT: Sports Stories as a Game Plan for Spiritual Success” a recent release by Devora Publishing (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Answers - Ponder the questions first and then look here

1) The Kli Yakar explains that Par’o was convinced that both visions were part of one dream and he related them in this manner. However, he wanted an explanation regarding why he had to be shown this message twice in the same dream. His magicians could not explain the repetition which explains the use of the word THEM.
2) The Ohr HaChayim answers that Yosef was being very precise and was informing Par’o that the famine would afflict the entire world (THE LAND) while only the land of Egypt would enjoy the years of plenty.
3) The Ramban explains that NAVON refers to someone with street smarts who can manage the years of plenty in terms of feeding the people of Egypt while also engaging in commerce with other lands who will need their food. CHACHAM connotes someone who understands the crops and knows how to store them without them rotting. The leader of Egypt would need both skills.

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