My Weekly Drash (a mini D'var Torah) - Miketz
Posted by Daniel M. Kimmel on December 5, 2007 | Tags: Miketz
The Joseph story which concludes the book of Genesis is unusual in a number of ways. For one thing, it’s the longest, spanning over four parshahs. For another, it’s a story where God doesn’t seem to be a player. God talks directly or through visions to Adam, Noah, and the Patriarchs, but in this story it’s Joseph, his family, and various Egyptians who are the focus of our attention. Yet it would be a mistake to think God is absent. In this week’s Parshah Miketz, there is much talk about God. For example, when the brothers find their money returned in their sacks of grain, Joseph tells them, “Your God, the God of your father, must have put the treasure in your bags for you.” (Gen. 43:23). Later, when a missing goblet is found in Benjamin’s sack, Judah tells Joseph, “God has uncovered the crime of your servants.” (Gen. 44: 16). In both cases it was actually Joseph who was responsible, but both Joseph and Judah – for different reasons – are declaring that God’s hand is at work here. Perhaps one lesson to take from this is the notion that there is evidence of God’s involvement in our lives all around us, if only we’ll take the time to look.
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Daniel M. KimmelJoined: October 2, 2007 Daniel M. Kimmel is a Boston area film critic, lecturer and author. He does these weekly mini-lessons for the Mishkan Tefila Brotherhood's newsletter. You are free to use them for similar purposes. Divrei Torah (117) |
