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Why did Yaakov tell his sons "Lamah tisra'u" — not to display even a perutah (minimal amount) when going to Egypt during the famine? The shiur explores whether this is about sensitivity to hunger, avoiding displaying wealth, or a deeper message about whether success should be shown as proof that righteousness brings blessing. The discussion raises the question of when it's appropriate to demonstrate that following Torah (תורה) leads to prosperity.
Rabbi Zweig analyzes the opening of Parshas Mikeitz, focusing on Yaakov's instruction to his sons before sending them to Egypt: "Lamah tisra'u" — why should you display yourselves? The Midrash explains this as "al totziu b'yedchem perutah" — don't go out with even a minimal amount of food in your hands. Rashi (רש"י) interprets it as not appearing "sevei'im" (satiated) before the children of Yishmael and Esav. The shiur presents a fundamental difficulty: Why would the tribes of Israel need Yaakov to teach them basic sensitivity? Surely they would naturally know not to display food in front of starving people. This is not merely about wealth — it's about basic human decency during a time of extreme hunger. The question becomes even stronger when we consider that the brothers were already at a level where such sensitivity should be obvious.
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Why does the Midrash connect Pharaoh's expulsion of the Jews to the mitzvah of shiluach hakan? The shiur develops a chiddush that Pharaoh's sin wasn't only drowning the children, but the insensitivity of expelling the parents afterward. The deeper analysis reveals that Pharaoh may have valued the Jews greatly and wanted to control them—making his expulsion an act of tremendous cruelty, not liberation.
Why does Moshe respond to the splitting of the sea with shirah rather than praise or thanksgiving? Rashi's use of "al libo" reveals that shirah is an emotional expression—a response of love to love. When Hashem shows personal care, the only adequate response is "I love You too," not mere gratitude or praise, and this principle applies to all relationships.
Bereishis 42:1 (Parshas Mikeitz)
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