B"H

Friday, Kislev 23, 5777 / December 23, 2016

In the beginning of this week's Parsha, Vayeishev, the Torah tells us of the special love which Yaakov had toward his son, Joseph: "Israel [Yaakov] loved Joseph more than all his children because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a coat of many colors."  This caused jealousy and rift between the brothers and Joseph.

Joseph had a dream in which he and his brothers were binding sheaves in the field.  Then Joseph’s sheaf stood upright and his brother’s sheaves surrounded his sheaf and bowed to his sheaf! 

Joseph has another dream in which he sees the sun, the moon and eleven stars bow down to him.  The eleven stars obviously represent his eleven brothers, who are bowing down to him. Joseph tells his brothers about his dreams, which further increases their jealousy and hatred toward him.

The brothers sell Joseph into slavery. Joseph ends up in Egypt working for an officer in the king's guard.  Eventually, Joseph lands in prison when he refuses the advances of his master's wife. 

In next week’s Parsha we will read that when King Pharaoh had a dream which no one could interpret, Joseph was summoned to interpret it. This led to Josephs’ being appointed as ruler over Egypt.

On the surface, it looks like the entire episode of how Joseph ended up in Egypt was a result of his brother’s jealousy and something very negative. But in truth, Joseph's ending up in Egypt was ordained by Divine Providence. G-d told Abraham, many years earlier, that his descendants will be strangers in a foreign land.  G-d made Joseph ruler of Egypt to make that transition as pleasant as possible.

G-d many times works in mysterious ways. Yaakov and Joseph were separated for twenty two painful years. But in the end they realized the purpose of their separation when Yaakov finally came to Egypt.

Max was on his way to a job interview. If he could only get this position it would be the fulfillment of his lifelong dream. He drove up to the office building in mid Manhattan, but there was no parking. He drove around the block a few times, but not one parking space was available. It was getting late and he couldn’t afford to be late for this interview. With only five minutes left, he was desperate!  He looked up to heaven and said, “Oh G-d, PLEASE help me find a parking spot…I promise that I will put on Teffilin!! 

All of a sudden a car pulled out and he had a perfect parking place right in front of the building. He was delighted… But as he was pulling into the space, he looks up to heaven and exclaimed, “G-d, forget the deal.. I just found a parking place on my own!

This Parsha is a lesson that nothing is by chance, even when it seems like a natural event. It is comforting to know that everything is by Divine Providence. The Chanukah holiday, which begins Shabbat night is testimony to G-d watching over us at all times.

SHABBAT  SHALOM & HAPPY CHANUKAH

Montrealcandle lighting time: 3:56 / Shabbat ends: 5:06