Weekly Torah Portion: Miketz (Genesis 41:1 – 44:17)

In this Torah portion, Pharaoh has two dreams. His baker remembers Joseph from prison, and Pharaoh brings Joseph to interpret the dreams. Pharaoh is so impressed by Joseph that he makes him his advisor. There is a famine, and Jacob sends his sons, minus Benjamin, to Egypt to buy food. They do not recognize Joseph when they meet him. Joseph tests his brothers by accusing them of being spies. Joseph arrests Simeon and demands the brothers bring Benjamin to Egypt to prove they are not spies. When Benjamin arrives, Joseph puts a goblet in Benjamin’s bag and accuses him of stealing it. Read an extensive summary on My Jewish Learning

Related D’var Torah

“With all of the world headlines right now, the tragedies the fear about scarcity of resources or the plain old grabbing up of riches out of pure greed, we need more relationships among community members and nation states and world leaders to be like that of Ephraim and Menasseh—focused on unity, common dreams, shared resources, appreciation of the sacredness of one another’s existence” – Rabbi Heather Miller in 2016. Read the full drash

I had a really incredible dream last night. Don’t worry- I’m not going to try to describe it to you. When I tried with Tracy this morning she said something like,’I’m sure that was amazing for you, dear, but I have to go to work’ – Rabbi Lisa Edwards in 2000. Read the full drash

Torah Verse of the Week*

And removing his signet ring from his hand, Pharaoh put it on Joseph’s hand; and he had him dressed in robes of fine linen, and put a gold chain around his neck. (Genesis 41:42; Parashat miketz)