Parsha Talk Miketz 5784 2023

Kol Ramah

Parsha Talk with Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Barrry Chesler and Jeremy Kalmanofsky. According to Eliot, Parashat Mikketz [Genesis 41:1–44:17] is the second-most amazing parashah in the entire Torah, coming a week after his Bar Mitzvah parashah. This parashah is the heart of the Joseph story: Joseph’s interpretation of Pharaoh’s dreams and subsequent elevation to second-in-command to Pharaoh, and the scenes with his brothers who have come to Egypt to buy grain. Joseph, as is well-known, tests his brothers, to see if they have changed. Our conversation focused almost exclusively on Joseph’s character. Has Joseph changed since that fateful day he was sold into slavery? The Hebrew of one of the verses makes the illuminating connection between recognition and strangeness, and estrangement, all with the same three letter root: nun, kaf, resh. We hope you enjoy it! As always, our thoughts and prayers are with the hostages, may they be restored to their families speedily, and with the soldiers defending Israel, may they be removed from harm’s way. As Hanukkah draws to a close, may the lights we kindle continue to burn ever more brightly long after the conclusion of the holiday. Shabbat Shalom!