No community start suggestion yet.
Why did Yaakov warn his sons against displaying wealth or going together as a group due to ayin hara, yet they descended to Egypt all ten together? The shiur develops that the brothers were not going primarily for food—90% of their mission was searching for Yosef. They understood that the famine might trigger the 210-year Egyptian exile foretold in the Bris Bein HaBesarim, and retrieving Yosef could delay this decree. For such a cosmic purpose, they were willing to risk the dangers of ayin hara.
Rabbi Zweig analyzes a lengthy Midrash on Parshas Mikeitz that opens with Yaakov's enigmatic instructions to his sons before they descend to Egypt. The Midrash (Midrash Rabbah) records that Yaakov tells them: "Al totziu b'yedchem prusa" (don't go out carrying bread) and "v'lo sachachrim prutos" (don't go around with money), so that others won't see they have abundance during a famine. Additionally, he warns them, "v'al tekatsu kocham b'pesach (פסח) achat" (don't all go into one doorway) because of ayin hara—the envious eye of others. Then Yaakov says, "Hineh shomati ki yesh shever b'Mitzrayim"—I heard there is grain in Egypt—go down and buy from there. The Midrash notes that the word "redu" (go down) has a numerical value of 210, hinting that Yaakov was informing them they would be in Egypt 210 years. Another statement in the Midrash observes that the Torah (תורה) says "vayerdu achei Yosef asarah" (ten brothers of Yosef went down), and Rabbi Binyamin comments that nine-tenths of their journey was to search for their brother Yosef, not for food. Rabbi Zweig asks several questions on this Midrash. First, why does Yaakov give the warnings about ayin hara at this particular time? Warnings about not displaying wealth and not traveling as a conspicuous group seem like general advice that should have been given years earlier, not specifically now during the famine. Second, if Yaakov is so concerned about ayin hara that he tells them not to go together through one entrance, why does he then send all ten sons down to Egypt at once? This directly violates his own instruction. Third, what does it mean that Yaakov "informed" them they would be there 210 years via the gematria of "redu"? Did they understand this message? If they did, it contradicts the later statement "lagor ba'aretz banu"—we came only to sojourn temporarily. If they didn't understand, what is the point of the hint? Fourth, why does the Midrash say that 90% or nine-tenths of their mission was to search for Yosef? The Torah explicitly states they went down for food due to the famine. What textual basis does the Midrash have for this assertion?
Dedicate a Shiur in Parsha
L'ilui nishmas a loved one. In honor of a simcha or yahrzeit. As a zechus for a refuah sheleimah. Your dedication helps carry Rabbi Zweig's Torah to learners around the world.
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.
Looking for the full summary?
Full access is available to members of the TUF Alumni Association or the Yam Hagadol Foundation.
Already a member? Let the admin know!
Parshas Mikeitz (Bereishis 42:1-4)
Looking for the full transcript?
Full access is available to members of the TUF Alumni Association or the Yam Hagadol Foundation.
Already a member? Let the admin know!
