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Why does the Torah (תורה) call Yosef a "ben zekunim" when all Yaakov's sons were born around the same time, and Binyamin was born even later? The shiur defines ben zekunim not as chronological age but as a child who helps the parent fulfill their life mission. Yosef was helping Yaakov build the family—the ultimate goal of marriage according to Yaakov's worldview.
Rabbi Zweig opens with a fundamental question on Parshas Vayeishev: the Torah (תורה) identifies Yosef as Yaakov's "ben zekunim" (son of old age), yet all of Yaakov's children were born within a seven-year span when Yaakov was between 84 and 91 years old. Moreover, Binyamin was born eight years after Yosef—he should have been the true ben zekunim. Rashi (רש"י) explains ben zekunim as "born in his father's old age," but this makes no sense given the timeline and Binyamin's later birth. A second question comes from Parshas Toldos: Why does the Midrash apply the principle of mechilat avonot (forgiveness of sins) specifically to Eisav's third marriage to Machalat (also called Bosmat bat Yishmael), but not to his first two marriages? The Midrash teaches that three people have their sins forgiven: a convert, one who achieves greatness, and one who marries. Yet Eisav had already married twice before.
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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.
Vayeishev 37:3, Toldos 28:9
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