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Why does Rashi (רש"י) translate "brios malios" as the cows looking kindly at each other, rather than simply appearing healthy? The shiur reveals that the pasuk describes not seven years of plenty but seven years of "sova" (satisfaction). True satisfaction is measured by whether you're happy for another's success—and without this satisfaction, Yosef's plan to store grain for the famine would have been impossible.
The shiur examines a cryptic Rashi (רש"י) on Pharaoh's dream in Parshas Mikeitz. The pasuk describes "brios malios"—cows that are robust and healthy. The simple translation would indicate well-fed animals symbolizing abundant food. Yet Rashi explains that the animals "looked good at each other"—they looked kindly at one another. The question is obvious: where does Rashi derive this interpretation? It seems completely made up from the text. Rashi is teaching us that the dream is not actually about the food during the seven years of plenty; it's about the people. The people during those years looked good at each other—they viewed each other with a favorable eye. But this too requires explanation. Why would having a lot of food automatically mean people don't begrudge each other's success? History and experience show us that wealth does not eliminate jealousy. People can have tremendous abundance and still be bothered by someone else having more.
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Bereishis 41 (Parshas Mikeitz)
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