In Parashat Miketz, we read that Yaakov sends his remaining sons to Egypt to purchase grain from the Egyptian vizier, who, unbeknownst to them, is none other than their missing brother, Yosef. Yosef accuses them of coming to Egypt to spy the country, and demands that they bring their youngest brother, Binyamin, as proof of their innocence. He keeps Shimon as prisoner in Egypt to guarantee the other brothers' return.

         Parashat Miketz tells the story of Yosef's rise to power in Egypt, followed by the famine that ravages the region and brings Yosef's own brothers before him to ask to purchase grain. Yosef, whose true identity remains a secret even to his brothers, accuses them of working as spies, takes Shimon hostage, and orders them to return to Canaan and bring back the youngest brother, Binyamin.

            Parashat Miketz begins with an account of Pharaoh's dreams that, in his mind, urgently required interpretation. He dreams first of seven lean, emaciated cows devouring seven large, hardy cows, and then beholds a similar vision of seven beaten sheaves of grain consuming seven fresh, healthy sheaves. The Torah tells that when Pharaoh awoke, "his spirit was agitated" (41:8); so troubled he was by these dreams that he immediately summoned his advisors and magicians in an attempt to uncover the dream's meaning.

Parashat Miketz begins with a description of Pharaoh's dreams, which Yosef will ultimately interpret as heralding the onset of seven years of surplus, which will be followed by seven years of drought. Pharaoh dreams of seven lean, emaciated cows devouring seven sturdy, healthy cows, as well as seven withered sheaves of grain "eating" seven robust sheaves. This vision, Yosef explains to the king, symbolizes the "lean" years of famine that will overtake and "devour" the seven years of surplus.

Blessings of wealth and comfort cast upon a person enormous responsibility; one's resources come to him so that he can utilize them in the pursuit of spiritual goals and for the betterment of the world. 

Why did Yosef have their money returned to their bags? What purpose did this serve within his overall scheme to bring Binyamin to Egypt?

Yosef, who correctly interprets several dreams throughout this story, interprets his own dreams as foreseeing his seminal role in leading the family in preparation for the long and difficult period that lay ahead. 

Parashat Miketz tells of the devastating famine that ravaged Egypt and its surrounding countries, including Canaan. Egypt had prepared for the crisis during the previous seven years of surplus, and was thus able to feed its own population and even sell grain to the peoples of Canaan. Yaakov therefore sends his sons from Chevron to purchase grain in Egypt, and when they come before Yosef, who served as the Egyptian viceroy and managed the distribution of grain, he accuses them of coming to spy the land.

Parashat Miketz continues the story of Yosef's experiences in Egypt, telling of his sudden appointment as the country's viceroy after successfully interpreting Pharaoh's dreams that had baffled his team of experts. Yosef informed Pharaoh that the seven shriveled cows and lean sheaves of grain, which he envisioned in his dream, symbolized seven years of famine that will follow seven years of surplus. He then added, "Accordingly, let Pharaoh find a man who is intelligent and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt" (41:33).

 In all areas of life, it would do us well to "interpret" events and issues with pure objectivity and reach conclusions based on actual facts, rather than on our preconceived notions.