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Parshat Miketz

By: Ilana Ambrose

In the beginning of Parshat Miketz, Yosef is called upon to interpret Paroh's dreams. After Yosef accomplished this task to Paroh's satisfaction, he then advised Paroh to appoint a wise man over the land during the years of abundance. This can be seen as a courageous act because Yosef was not in the position to advise the king of Egypt—he had only been called to interpret the dream. If Yosef spoke "out of turn" why does Paroh respond by appointing him a position of power?

A story was once told about two government officials. The men would always argue about who was superior because each felt he held a higher position. One day the two men arrived at a train station were there was a band playing patriotic music. Each claimed that the band was playing in their merit. They continued to argue until one of the men suggested they ask a third party what he thought. They approached a beggar, who demanded 50 rubbles for his input on the matter. Understanding that he was given a moment to speak to ministers--something which he didn't normally have--he responded by saying that the music was playing by none of their merits but to his own merit. The officials demanded to know what merit the beggar was referring to. "To provide me with 50 rubbles," was his reply.

This is exactly what Yosef was implying to Paroh. Hashem could have cast a famine upon the land with out fare warnings through Paroh's dream. However Hashem had a greater plan in mind. The purpose of these dreams was to redeem Yosef from prison and to elevate a position of power. Yosef understood that the dreams must have been in his merit, and so, he acted accordingly. Yosef's "speaking out of turn" was really motivated by an understanding that a person should never take the moments Hashem gives us for granted. Yosef seized the moment and did not waste the precious opportunity that he was given.

Rav Abraham Pam suggested that this message is what connects Parshat Miketz and Chanuka. Israel is known for its olive oil. In the days before the Chanuks story, there was an abundance of oil. However, in the times of the Maacabim there was a shortage of usable oil. However, Hashem miraculously provided for us when we needed it. In turn, we responded by establishing a holiday of Hallel and Hoda'ah to Hashem? Was this little flask of oil worth an eight day holiday? Yosef teaches us that the answer is yes. We must never take the moments Hashem provides us for granted. Just as Yosef seized his small moment of merit to bring Hashem's light to the world, so too, in the time of Chanuka, we did not let our moment pass without bringing Hashem's light to the world.

It is our responsibility to never take what Hashem gives us for granted, and to use every moment to our advantage in bringing Hashem's goodness to the world around us.

Ilana comes to AMIT from Manhattan and plans to attend Queens College in the fall. Her favorite part of Midreshet AMIT is the close relationships that she has with her teachers and Rabbeim.

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