Summary of The Weekly Torah Reading:
Parshas Miketz
Note: The Shabbos Torah Reading is divided into 7 sections. Each section
is called an Aliya [literally: Go up] since for each Aliya, one person
"goes up"
to make a bracha [blessing] on the Torah Reading.
1st Aliya:
The year is 2229 and Yoseph has been in prison for 12 years.
Pharaoh has two similar dreams and demands their interpretation. The wine
steward remembers Yoseph and his gift for dream interpretation, and Yoseph is
rushed into Pharaoh's presence.
2nd Aliya:
Yoseph interprets Pharaoh' dream and suggests to him how to best
administrate the seven years of plenty and the seven years of famine. (The
extent of Yoseph's brilliance will first be revealed in next week's Parsha.)
3rd Aliya:
Yoseph is appointed viceroy over Egypt, and puts into effect the
plan that he had outlined to Pharaoh. He marries the daughter of Potiphar (the
daughter of Dina) and has two sons, Menashe and Ephrayim.
4th Aliya:
The seven years of famine begin, and the only food available is in
Mitzrayim. Yoseph, unrecognized by his brothers, recognizes them when they
come to buy food. He accuses them of treachery and imprisons them for three
days.
5th Aliya:
Yoseph demands that Binyamin be brought to Egypt and keeps Shimon
as a hostage. The brothers relate their adventure to Yakov who refuses to send
Binyamin. The increasing famine forces Yakov to concede to Yehuda's guarantee
that Binyamin will be safe, and the brothers return to Egypt.
6th Aliya:
The brothers are reunited with Shimon and invited to eat at the
table of Yoseph. All appears to be forgiven and Yoseph sees Binyamin for the
first time in 22 years.
7th Aliya:
Yoseph hatches his final plot against his brothers. His famed
chalice is planted in the Binyamin's saddlebag forcing the brothers to return
to Mitzrayim and a confrontation with Yoseph. The year is 2238.
Parsha Summary by Rabbi Aron Tendler
