Two Minute Torah Podcast

Miketz 5768 by Rabbi Moshe Edelman

In this week's parsha, Miketz, which is always read within the time frame of parsha, Miketz, we encounter Pharaoh the dreamer, while Joseph is the dream interpreter who is soon to be elevated from prisoner to second in command over Egypt.

I recall a rabbinical student at the Jewish Theological Seminary presenting his senior sermon on Shabbat Miketz. He told a well worn story about names. In the early years of the 20" century, as Jews immigrated to the shores of the United States, the trip from Europe was treacherous. Nervous about presenting himself to the authorities, one Jew practiced his name over and over. Our young man repeated his anglicized name. When the moment arrived and he stood before the immigration off~ciale, verything flew out of his head. "What's your name?' In a panic our young Jew reverted to his native Yiddish and said, "Oy Shoyn Fergessen" - Oy, I have forgotten my new Americanized name. Shoyn Fergessen it shall be said the inspector - Shaun Ferguson it is. In Parshat Miketz, Joseph is given a new name. Like our European immigrant, Joseph is given a title and name by his new environment, his new land and his new overseer, Pharaoh.

Pharaoh removed his ring and put it on Yosef s hand. Joseph was then dressed in fine linen with a gold necklace and a royal chariot.

And Pharaoh called Yosef, Tzafnat Panayach Pharaoh tried to change Yosef in responsibility, in dress, in jewelry, and in title. Pharaoh tried to acculturate and assimilate Yosef

The name change was to be the final step in removing any remnant of his father's values. But Yosef remembered his history. Rashi explains that the name change meant "he who explains what is hidden." Yosef may have interpreted dreams, but his history was always with him, never hidden.

A midrash offers us a lesson. It teaches that for the hundreds of years of Egyptian slavery, the Israelites did not adopt the dress patterns of their masters -they remained modest in dress; did not adopt the diets of their overseers but maintained the distinct pattern of kashruf; and did not adopt the Egyptian names but named their children with Hebrew names.

The midrash is declaring that as Jews we have a sacred, unique lifestyle. Kedusha elevates our daily lives. Kedusha in dress, in eating and in names help us to withstand the seduction to assimilate.

We cannot say about Jewish life - shoyn fergessen - I forgot how to be a Jew. The Maccabees defended the challenge to destroy the spirit of Judaism's existence. Joseph remembered who and what he was regardless of an outside name placed on his shoulders.

When Joseph reveals himself to his brothers he says, I am Joseph not Tzafnat F'anayach.

Is my father alive?

In this Chanukah week, we must keep the values of previous generations alive. Let's revive the Hebrew names of our people as our names and our children's names. Happy Chanukah. Shabbat Shalom.