Torah Tidbits: Parshat Mikeitz

41:1-7 - I find the prevalence of dreams in Joseph's life -- and the lives of those he encounters -- interesting.  Are these dreams God's indirect communications?  As a means of intervening in human affairs without doing so directly?  We've seen God, angels, "men" who may or may not be angels, and now dreams all doing the talking (in descending level of clarity).  Here we have Pharaoh himself dreaming.  Putting aside modern psychology, is this supposed to be God speaking to Pharoah in his dreams as a means of getting him to seek out Joseph?  Hmmm...

41:15-38 - Here, Pharoah relates his dream to Joseph, who interprets the dream (according to the Kehot translation) "not by [his] own power" but rather "God will provide an answer through [him] for Pharaoh's welfare."  Pharoah is pleased with this interpretation, asking "'Could we find another man like this, who clearly has the spirit of God within him?'"  How strange!  In the first place, we have the idea that Joseph can interpret dreams with God's help; does this imply they cannot be interpreted with without God's help?  (Or is this Joseph trying to humble himself before Pharoah?)  Second, and more puzzling to me, is that Pharoah clearly accepts that (a) Joseph is able to interpret these dreams better than this own councilors and, by extension, (b) God exists and is all-knowing enough to allow Joseph to do so.  Again, we have evidence that the ruler of Egypt did accept that there is "a" God who is knowing and powerful.  Why did the Pharoah of Exodus seem to forget this?!?

41:39-46 - Continuing this theme, these verses show Pharoah bestowing title and power to Joseph, making him more powerful than anyone in Egypt excluding himself!  (I never realized how powerful Joseph was...)  This is incredible on several levels:  Why would he make an outsider so powerful, one in jail no less!  And what's more, he gives an Egyptian woman to him!!  (What happened to not marrying non-Jews?!?)  Incredible!

41:50-52 - Joseph has two sons by his non-Jewish wife, who most certainly aren't then Jewish!  What's going on here!?!  I thought intermarriage was a no-no?!?

42:24 - Moving on to the episodes in which famine drives Joseph's brothers into Egypt in search of food...  Here, I think, are some of the most human, moving portions of the Torah.  From Kehot, "[Joseph] turned aside...from [his brothers]...and wept"  because he was so moved to see them after so long.  (Though it begs the question of why he felt the need to keep his identity hidden from them for so long.)

42:38 - More emotion, as Jacob laments the prospect of sending Benjamin to Egypt at Joseph's request -- "'...should disaster befall him along the road you travel...you will bring my white-haired head down to the grave in grief.'"  These scenes are so much more descriptive than, say, when Abraham is told to sacrifice Isaac -- there, we know nothing of his thoughts and feelings.

43:16-18 - Great drama, as Joseph toys with his brothers, who do not know who he is... 

43:30-31 - On seing Benjamin, Joseph can hardly control himself...he has to leave the room to weep, before coming back in to order that the meal be served.