This Parsha Message is in memory of those who were killed in the brutal attacks in Israel on October 7 Shemini Atzeret 5784.

It should be a merit for a refuah shelaima for those who were wounded, for the return of those taken hostage, for the protection and success of the Israeli soldiers, and for strength, comfort, and protection for Jews in Israel and around the world.

After Yosef interprets Pharaoh's dream that seven years of plenty are coming followed by seven years of famine, he offers some guidance.

וְעַתָּה יֵרֶא פַרְעֹה אִישׁ נָבוֹן וְחָכָם וִישִׁיתֵהוּ עַל־אֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם׃ יַעֲשֶׂה פַרְעֹה וְיַפְקֵד פְּקִדִים עַל־הָאָרֶץ וְחִמֵּשׁ אֶת־אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם בְּשֶׁבַע שְׁנֵי הַשָּׂבָע׃ וְיִקְבְּצוּ אֶת־כׇּל־אֹכֶל הַשָּׁנִים הַטֹּבוֹת הַבָּאֹת הָאֵלֶּה וְיִצְבְּרוּ־בָר תַּחַת יַד־פַּרְעֹה אֹכֶל בֶּעָרִים וְשָׁמָרוּ׃ וְהָיָה הָאֹכֶל לְפִקָּדוֹן לָאָרֶץ לְשֶׁבַע שְׁנֵי הָרָעָב אֲשֶׁר תִּהְיֶיןָ בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם וְלֹא־תִכָּרֵת הָאָרֶץ בָּרָעָב

Accordingly, let Pharaoh find someone who’s discerning and wise, whom you can set over the land of Egypt. And let Pharaoh take steps to appoint overseers over the land, and organize the land of Egypt in the seven years of plenty. Let all the food of these good years that are coming be gathered, and let the grain be collected under Pharaoh’s authority as food to be stored in the cities.Let that food be a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which will come upon the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish in the famine. (41:33-37)

The question is that all Yosef was asked to do was to interpret Pharaoh’s dream. Why then did he offer up advice?

Some answer that Yosef understood that this was part of the dream. Why else was Pharaoh now shown in a dream that a famine will come seven years later? If the dream is just informational then that can come in a dream closer to when it will begin! Therefore Yosef concluded that the dream itself is telling Pharaoh to prepare now.

Another approach to answer this question may be that it’s true that Yosef was only asked to interpret. But if he can be of help, then that’s what he’ll do! A giving person is one who gives whenever the opportunity arises. Once the opportunity came his way, Yosef was there to help.

Alternatively, interpreting without offering guidance was unacceptable to the way Yosef lived his life. Pharaoh was distraught because he had no interpretation for his dreams and Yosef’s interpretation would bring him peace of mind. But to tell Pharaoh that his country was facing an eventual famine but to leave him hanging as to what to do would be depriving him of the rest of the help he needed. To Yosef that means he only did half a job. Yosef doesn’t do half jobs. Whatever Yosef does has to be shaleim – whole and complete.

I heard a beautiful story about a young boy whose father was very ill. He was advised to call Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky Shlit”a (may he be well), the Rosh HaYeshiva (the Dean) of the Yeshiva of Philadelphia for a blessing that his father should have a refuah shelaima (a complete recovery). Rabbi Kamenetsky responded to the young boy’s call with a warm blessing for his father. He then asked the young boy a question. Every night as part of their homework the boys in his grade had to review their Torah studies of that day. “Who does your homework with you?” asked Rabbi Kamenetsky. The boy answered no one. Then and there Rabbi Kamenetsky made up with him that every night the young boy should call him and he would do the homework with him!

Great people don’t just do what’s asked of them. Their sense of shelaimut, of being whole and complete, leads them to see beyond what’s in front of them and get the whole job done.

Shabbat Shalom,
Yitzchak