It is two years later. Pharaoh has a dream, but is unsatisfied with all attempts to interpret it. Pharaoh's wine chamberlain remembers that Yosef accurately interpreted his dream while in prison. Yosef is released from prison and brought before Pharaoh. He interprets that soon will begin seven years of abundance, followed by seven years of severe famine. Yosef tells Pharaoh to appoint a wise person to store grain in preparation for the famine; whereupon Pharaoh appoints Yosef as viceroy over all of Egypt. Pharaoh gives Yosef an Egyptian name, Tsafnat Panayach, and selects Osnat, Yosef's ex-master's daughter, as Yosef's wife. Egypt becomes the granary of the world. Yosef has two sons, Menashe and Ephraim.

Yaakov sends his sons to Egypt to buy food. The brothers come before Yosef and bow to him. Yosef recognizes them but they do not recognize him. Mindful of his dreams, Yosef plays the part of an Egyptian overlord and acts harshly, accusing them of being spies. Yosef sells them food, but keeps Shimon hostage until they bring their brother Binyamin to him as proof of their honesty. Yosef commands his servants to replace the purchase-money in their sacks. When they discover the money on their journey home, their hearts sink. They return to Yaakov and retell everything. Yaakov refuses to let Binyamin go to Egypt, but when the famine grows unbearable he accedes, but only after Yehuda guarantees Binyamin's safety. The brothers go to Egypt where Yosef welcomes them lavishly as honored guests. When he sees Binyamin, he rushes from the room and weeps. Yosef instructs his servants to replace the money in their sacks and to put his goblet inside Binyamin's sack. When the goblet is discovered, Yosef demands Binyamin become his slave as punishment for theft. Yehuda interposes and offers himself instead, but Yosef refuses.

PARSHA INSIGHTS

In the Heart of a child

“So Pharaoh sent and summoned Yosef, and they rushed him from the dungeon…” (41:14)

Little children find it difficult to do things alone. They need constant help and encouragement. They can be bold when a parent is near, but when out of sight, tears replace bravado until, once again, the child feels the parental hand that comforts.

Our first steps as babies are greeted by parental glee; hands reach out and guide our every step. When we falter, Mom and Dad are there to stop the fall.

A day comes, however, when we stumble and fall. Tears fill our eyes, dismay fills our hearts. We look around: "Mommy? Daddy? Are you there?"

Only when our parents let us fall can we learn to walk. Only when our parents let us become adults can we stop being children. If, as parents, we never let our children fall, they will never learn to stand by themselves. Everything has its season, of course, and a child challenged beyond his capabilities may lose hope in himself, but a challenge at the right time is an opportunity to grow and discover who we really are.

Chanukah celebrates two events: The defeat of the vast Seleucid Greek army by a handful of Jews and the miracle of the one flask of pure oil that burned for eight days. At first glance, the defeat of our oppressors seems the greater cause for celebration; yet our focus rests on the miracle of the lights. Why?

Chanukah occurred after the last of the Prophets - Chagai, Zecharia and Malachi - passed away. Hashem no longer communicated directly with humans. We were suddenly like children alone in the dark. From the darkness, we would need to forge our connection with Hashem in the furnace of our own hearts. We needed to grow up.

But growing up is difficult. "Mommy, Daddy...Are you still there?" The heart can grow a little cold with longing. We needed a little help.

The joy of Chanukah is not so much because we got what we prayed for - the defeat of our oppressors - but that our prayers were answered…with a miracle. From the center of a world where spiritual decay had tainted the holiest places, light burst forth; Hashem was still there.

That little flask would burn and burn, not just for eight days but for millennia. We would take those lights with us into the long dark night of exile and we would know that Hashem is there with us, even in the darkest of nights.

More Jews observe Chanukah than any other Jewish festival. Those lights burned for more than just eight days. They’ve been burning for over two thousand years. However far one may be from their Jewish roots, a menorah still burns in their window. A little spark lingers on; a holy spark hidden in the heart of a child.