In this week’s parsha, we reach the conclusion of the dramatic story of Yosef and his brothers. Yosef finally reveals his identity and brings his entire family down to Egypt, where he is able to sustain them during the years of famine. The Torah describes Yosef’s care for his family as follows: “ Yosef sustained his father and his brothers and all of his father’s household with food, according to the children. ” (Bereishis 47:12) The verse seems repetitive. We are already tol

The Torah tells us that there was a great famine in Egypt and the surrounding countries. As the famine intensified and his family’s food supply dwindled, Yaakov urged his children to act: “Yaakov perceived that there were provisions in Egypt; so Yaakov said to his sons, ‘ lama tisrau  (Why do you look upon one another)?’  And he said, ‘Behold, I have heard that there are provisions in Egypt; go down there and purchase for us from there, that we may live and not die.’” (Berais

The Torah begins the parsha by telling us that Yosef was a uniquely gifted person. The Torah says that: “These are the generations of Yaakov. Yosef at the age of seventeen was tending the sheep with his brothers by the flock, but he was a youth with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Yosef would bring evil reports about them to their father. Yisrael loved Yosef more than all his children, because he was ben zikunav , and he made him a fine wool

The Torah (Beraishis 32:8) tells us that Yaakov was greatly frightened by his pending encounter with Esav. In preparing for his reunion, the Torah tells us that he moved his entire family across the Yabok River: “He took his two wives, his two maidservants, and his eleven sons.” (Beraishis 32:23)   Rashi  notices that he Torah lists Yaakov’s eleven sons but makes no mention of his daughter, Dinah. Rashi, citing the Midrash, explains:   “He placed her in a chest and locked her