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Parchat Mikeitz:
Genesis 41:1-44:17;
I Kings 3:15-4:1.
T
he Torah portion of Mikeitz
opens with Pharaoh's strange
dreams of fat cows, emaci-
ated cows, fat stalks of grain and
thin stalks of grain. Joseph correctly
deciphers these dreams as heralding
a period of plenty, followed by years
of famine. His insightful
analysis, plus his advice
on how to deal with the
situation, catapults Joseph
from prisoner to viceroy
— second most powerful
leader in Egypt.
Eventually, his broth-
ers arrive in Egypt to
purchase food, but Joseph
conceals his identity from
them, accuses them of
espionage and, ultimately,
takes first Shimon and
then Benjamin — whom
he frames as a thief — as hostages.
The beginning of the Torah portion
relates that "at the end of two years"
Pharaoh has a dream. Rashi cites the
midrash that Joseph remained an extra
two years in prison as Divine punish-
ment for his actions. Mat actions?
After Joseph deciphered the cup-
bearer's dream correctly (in last week's
Torah portion), he implored the cup-
bearer to tell Pharaoh that he had been
wrongly imprisoned. The midrash
explains that Joseph sinned by put-
ting his faith in an arrogant Egyptian
rather than totally relying on God,
and, therefore, he was punished.
In contrast, consider the parable:
The river was rising quickly; its over-
flowing waters were rushing through
the streets of the town. A police car
cruised by Jack's house where he was
standing in the living room, knee deep
in water.
"C'mon, Jack, hop into the car and
we'll drive you up the hill."
No thanks, guys. God will take care
of me."
A couple of hours passed. Rescue
boats sailed down the streets looking for
stranded residents. Jack was by a win-
dow on the second floor of the house;
the entire first floor was under water.
"Hey, Jack! Climb into the boat and
we'll get you to safety!"
No thanks. My faith is in God. He'll
help me."
Two hours later, a helicopter flying
INLINE
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over the flooded town saw Jack stand-
ing on the roof of his house.
"Hall000! We'll lower a rope and haul
you up. We'll fly you to dry ground!"
"It's OK, guys. God is my salvation."
... Standing in front of the Pearly
Gates, Jack complains to God.
"I trusted You, God! I put all
my faith in you! Why did you
let me drown? Why didn't you
save me?!"
"Excuse Me, son! Who do
you think sent the police car,
the boat, the helicopter?"
There is nothing wrong
with turning to others for
assistance. Indeed, we're obli-
gated to use whatever natural
means available to help our-
selves. However, once the mis-
sion has been given over to
others, we must put our bita-
chon — faith, reliance — in God, not
in the messenger. Instead of fretting
over whether the emissary will per-
form his duty, we put our trust in the
Master of the Universe, who controls
all deeds and thoughts and actions.
A Chasid once came to the Tzemach
Tzedek, the third Rebbe of Chabad,
and asked for a blessing to resolve a
life-threatening situation. The Rebbe
responded "tracht gut vet zein gut:"
think positively and everything will
work out positively.
When a person is truly confident
that God, who transcends all limita-
tions, can and will resolve any and
all issues, including those that seem
unsolvable, then he becomes a ves-
sel for the unlimited blessing of the
Almighty. Joseph was correct in asking
the cupbearer to intercede for him; his
bitachon stumbled when he "put his
faith" in the cupbearer rather than in
God.
Most of us must occasionally deal
with very stressful and demanding sit-
uations. Our brethren in Israel live in
a perpetual pressure cooker. Although
we must utilize all rational and natural
means available for deliverance from
our problems, it is genuine bitachon in
the Master of the Universe that chan-
nel His blessings into our lives.
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D. Dan & Betty Kahn Building
Eugene & Marcia Applebaum Jewish Community Campus
6600 W. Maple • West Bloomfield, MI 48322
www.jccdet.org
PhiyhouF T eqt r
Please Join Us December 15th 11am. • Orchard Mall Center Court
Ron Coden 6 Friends
Perennial Folk Favorites
Audience Participation that
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Elimelech Silberberg is a rabbi at Sara and
Morris Tugman Bais Chabad Torah Center
in West Bloomfield.
WEST BLOOMFIELD • MICHIGAN
Interactive r
Entertainment
for kids
Orchard take Road • North of Mapk
For more info visit: www.orchardmallwb.com
December 13 • 2012
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