Daily Chumash & Rashi Parshas Vayeishev Chamishi – Yosef in Mitzrayim (Thursday 21st Kisleiv)

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Chamishi

  1. Yosef in Mitzrayim:
    • Potifar, the head butcher of Pharaoh, had purchased Yosef from the Yishmaeilim who brought him there.
    • Hashem blesses the home of Potifar: Hashem was with Yosef, and Yosef was successful while at the home of his master the Egyptian. His master noticed his success and that G-d is with him. As a result, Yosef found favor in his eyes, and was placed in charge of everything in the home. After Yosef was appointed in charge of the estate, and all of his assets, Hashem blessed the house of the Egyptian due to Yosef, and blessing was found in everything in the home and field. Yosef was placed in charge of everything, aside for the bread which he eats. Yosef had a beautiful figure and appearance.

Q&A from Rashi

Q1: Why does the Torah return to Yosef’s story after the Judah-Tamar episode?

A: Rashi explains that the Torah interrupts Yosef’s narrative to juxtapose Judah’s demotion with Yosef’s sale, showing that Judah lost his status because of his role in the sale. Another reason: to place Potiphar’s wife’s story next to Tamar’s, teaching that both acted “for the sake of heaven”—Tamar knowingly, and Potiphar’s wife mistakenly, thinking she would bear Yosef’s descendants.

 

Q2: What does “וְיוֹסֵף הוּרַד” (Yosef had been taken down) imply?

A: It signals a return to the original subject after the digression about Judah.

 

Q3: What does “כִּי ה’ אִתּוֹ” (that G-d was with him) mean?

A: Rashi explains that G-d’s name was constantly on Yosef’s lips, showing his faith.

 

Q4: What does “וְכָל־יֶשׁ־לוֹ” (all he owned) indicate?

A: It’s an abbreviated phrase; the word אֲשֶׁר (“that”) is omitted after וְכָל.

 

Q5: Why does the Torah say Potiphar “did not concern himself with anything except the bread he ate”?

A: Rashi says “bread” is a euphemism for his wife. Potiphar entrusted everything to Yosef except his wife.

 

Q6: Why mention Yosef’s beauty here?

A: Rashi explains that once Yosef gained control of the household, he began grooming himself. G-d rebuked him: “Your father is mourning, and you are grooming your hair! I will incite the bear against you”—hinting at Potiphar’s wife’s coming temptation.

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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