Miketz

Miketz | ??? | “From the end ” – Prepare yourself for ‘The End’

The Tenth reading from the Genesis is named as Miketz (???), which means “the end.” It comes from the first verse of the reading, which says, “Now it happened at the end of two full years that Pharaoh had a dream” (Genesis 41:1). The portion begins with Pharaoh’s portentous dreams, Joseph’s interpretations and his subsequent rise to power over Egypt. When a famine strikes the land of Canaan, his brothers come to Egypt seeking grain, but they do not recognize Joseph.

it happened At the end of two years to the day: Pharaoh was dreaming that behold! – he was standing over the River . . . (Bereishis 2:1-3)

The word Mikeitz means “At the end,” as in the saying, “the end of days” (Daniel 12:13).

In Aramaic the word “days” is almost identical to its Hebrew equivalent, but the last letter switches from a mem to a nun (???? = ????). The Zohar (I 62b) notes that this Aramaic word, ???? is identical to the Hebrew word ????, meaning “right” and on this basis, the Zohar concludes:

There are two ‘ends,’ one on the spiritual ‘right’ and one on the spiritual ‘left.’”In Jewish mysticism, “left” represents the side of evil. So, the “end of the spiritual left” refers to the day when evil will cease to exist, with the end of exile, i.e. “the end of days”. “Right,” on the other hand, represents goodness and holiness. Thus we refer to the “end of the right,” to indicate that there is no dilution of values in the realms of holiness, so the end is as good as the beginning. The term ?? ?????. (“end of the spiritual right”) is thus an allusion to the’ final redemption, when good will triumph over evil, and we will see how good is found consistently throughout the entire world.

Which “end” does the word Mikeitz refer to-the “end of the left” or the “end of the right”? In fact, both could be discussed:

a) Yosef is released from jail. This was the end of Yosef’s exile, i.e. the “end of the left.”

b) On the other hand, we then read how Yosef suddenly rose to power and became ruler over Egypt-his redemption, represented by “the end of the right.”

But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this good news of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come – Matthew 24 : 13-14

And Jacob called his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, and I will tell you what will befall you at the End of days– Genesis 49 : 1

For there is yet another vision about the appointed time; it will speak of the End and it will not deceive. Though it may tarry, await it, for it will surely come, it will not delay (Habbukkak 2:3)

Torah

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Genesis 41:1-44:17

Leviticus 19:16; Genesis 37:8, 25; Genesis 42:7

Haftarah Portion

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Isaiah 66:1-24

1 Kings 3:15 – 4:1

Daniel 12 : 1 – 13 ; Joel 2 : 28 – 32

Ha-Berit ha-Hadashah

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Luke 4:16-31

Matthew 6:3-4

II peter 3 : 1- 18 ; II Timothy 3 : 1 -5

Luke 21: 23- 24 ; Revelation 1 : 3

Notes:

The Parsha begins with a specific reference to “two years” having passed. The sages comment that these were two years that G-d added to Joseph’s prison term for not trusting Him fully and instead appealing to the chief of cup bearers (imprisoned along with him at the time) to “put in a good word for him to Pharaoh.”

Pharaoh has two dreams. We are told in Gen 41:32 that the dream was repeated because, “the matter is established before the Lord and the Lord is hastening to carry it out.” The term “before the Lord” applies to the “upper spiritual realm,” (“Beriah” in Hebrew), which is the Heavenly Throne Room. Angels (“messengers” in Hebrew) in the lower spiritual world of Yetzirah, assist in carrying out G-d’s will down to the physical world (“Asiyyah” in Hebrew).

That the Dream was repeated and find the connection of the words, as we see “duplication” of names mentioned in Scripture. Examples are; “Abraham, Abraham” (Genesis 22:11), “Jacob, Jacob” (Genesis 46:2), “Moses, Moses” (Exodus 3:4) and “Samuel, Samuel” (1Samuel 3:10). It is similar but different context in the New Testament: “Babylon is fallen, is fallen” (Revelation 14:8).

“And it came to pass at the end of two years“ (Beresheet 41:1). Rabbi Chiya opened the discussion with the verse, “He puts an end to darkness, and searches out all perfection, the stone of darkness and the shadow of death” (Job 28:3). “He puts an end to darkness” is the end of the left, WHICH IS NOT INCLUDED WITHIN THE RIGHT; IT IS THE SATAN, THE ANGEL OF DEATH. He hovers about the world AND INCITES PEOPLE TO SIN; he hovers above and stands before the Holy One, blessed be He, and blames and accuses the world. As it is written, he “searches out all perfection (Heb. tachlit),” for his deeds are not intended to achieve good, but rather to exterminate (Heb. lechalot) and bring extinction to the world, AS HE TAKES THE SOULS OF MEN AND KILLS THEM.

Arizal found this, “Two Years” : Zohar 2:18 Come and behold: “Blessed be Adonai who day by day bears our burden” (Tehilim(psalm) 68:20). The name Adonai is spelled Aleph-Dalet-Nun-Yud. This verse contains the mystery of wisdom. “day by day” is the secret of “two years (lit. ‘two years’ days’)”…

The Zohar, commenting in this Parasha, briefly cites the verse, “Ketz Sam La’hoshech” – “He made an end to the darkness” (Iyob 28:3). Clearly, the Zohar refers here to the “darkness” of Yosef’s imprisonment. He languished for many long years in a dark, dreary dungeon, until finally this period of darkness ended and gave way to the light of redemption.

Zohar Miketz 2:25 “And it came to pass in the end.” Rabbi Chizkiyah began with the verse: “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” (Kohelet 3:1). Come and behold what the Holy On, blessed be He, did below: He set a time for everything, and a fixed term for it. He fixed a term for light and darkness. He set a time for light for all nations except Israel, which now have mastery over the world, and He set time for darkness, when Israel are in exile and under the dominion of other nations. The Holy On, blessed be He, appointed a season for all and, therefore: “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose. “ He asks: What is the meaning of, “and a time to every purpose?” He replies: It means a time and season for everything that is below, that is, for all the goodness found below has a set time and season.

He answered, You don’t need to know the dates or the times; the Father has kept these under his own authority – Acts 1 : 7

Yesod, Foundation – Righteous One

“…that Pharaoh dreamed, and behold, he stood by the river” concerns the dream of Joseph, NAMELY A DREAM OF REMEMBRANCE THAT REFERS TO JOSEPH, because every river is part of Joseph the Righteous. This is the hidden meaning of the thought that whoever sees a river in his dream sees peace, WHICH IS THE GRADE OF YESOD, THAT IS, JOSEPH, as it is written, “I will extend peace to her like a river” (Isaiah 66:12), so “river” alludes to Joseph.

The name Yosef (Joseph) is associated with the modern kabbalistic (Jewish mysticism) term yesod, meaning foundation, from the expression, “Tzadik yesod olam” — a righteous man is the foundation of the world.

The righteous is the foundation of the world – Proverbs 10:25

Yohanan bore witness of The Righteous One – The Foundation of the world, Messiah Ben Yoseph who received the soul of, The Messenger of His Presence – ???? ????.

Isa 63:7-9 Let me recount the kindnesses of ???? and the praises of ????, according to all that ???? has done for us, and the great goodness toward the house of Yisra’el, which He has done for them according to His compassion, and according to His many kindnesses.

8 And He said, “They are My people, children who do not act falsely.” And He (HaShem)became their Savior – In Hebrew it is written: ?????? -Mosiah.

Isa_63:9 In all their distress He was distressed, and the Messenger of His Presence –????? ???? ??????? ?????? – saved them. In His love and in His compassion He redeemed them, and He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

“I bring near My righteousness, it shall not be far off, and My salvation shall not wait; and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel My glory. (Isaiah 46:13)

The tzaddik is said to be the “foundation” of the world. The word associated with foundation is Yesod. In deeper Hebraic Torah study: Yesod follows Malkut (Kingdom) in the path of teshuvah (repentance) leading to G-d. Strongly associated with Malkut is the idea of humility.

We are taught that we are to “seek first the kingdom (Malkut) then all else will be added to us. G-d reveals Himself to the humble.

This is the same path (way) Yeshua referred: But seek ye first the kingdom of G-d [i.e., Malkut], and his righteousness [the path of the Tzaddik], and all these things shall be added unto you – Matthew 6:33

Because strait is the gate [Malkut or Tzaddik], and narrow is the way [ the path of the Tzaddik], which leads unto life, and few there be that find it – Matthew 7:14

The path of the Tzaddik was the way that John preached: For John came unto you in the way of righteousness – Matthew 21:32

Yeshua made clear that He was the path (way) of the Tzadik: Yeshua said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me. – John 14:6

Conclusion: “A successful Man”

The reason why Joseph was “a successful man” (Gen. 39:2) was precisely because “HaShem was with Joseph” (ibid.) — “the name of Heaven was regularly on his mouth” (Rashi ad loc.).

Joseph observed G-d’s law despite the fact that this led to his incarceration in the king’s prison and his disgrace in the eyes of sophisticated Egypt. Joseph is the archetype of “the tzaddik who has it bad” (Berachos 7a). Yet even in this adverse situation, “HaShem was with Joseph” (Gen. 39:21). As before (ibid. v. 2), this teaches that “the name of Heaven was regularly on his mouth”. That was the very key to Joseph’s “success”. Joseph knew that G-d speaks to us through the happenings of this world, and that we can find divine messages and meaning everywhere and in everything.

The END:

The whole purpose of Torah study is to support our connection to the Tree of Life, draw strength from it, work on our correction process and prepare our souls for ‘The End’. The End is the fight against the negative side.

All the Israelites with faith in the Torah hang on the Tree of Life. Some in the body of the tree, some in the branches, leaves, roots and other parts of the Tree. Those who dwell in the deep Torah study, hold to the body of the Tree and that is like they are part of the whole Tree.

Proverbs 3:18 “She is (the Torah) a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who support her are called blessed.” -‘Those who support her’ are those who go beyond the study and help in spreading its Light. They will have greater merit in the world to come. The secret in ??????????? ?????????, equal ???? ???? ??. It means that the support comes from the upper levels of Chokmah, Binah and Da’at.

John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim, and the Word was Elohim. 2 He was in the beginning with Elohim.3 All came to be through Him,1 and without Him not even one came to be that came to be. ( Eph. 3:9, Col. 1:16, Heb. 1:2, Heb. 11:3, 2 Peter 3:5, Ps. 33:6).4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

This process prepares us for the end of ‘The End’ when death is swallowed forever and those who are holding strong to the Tree of Life will merit resurrection.

“He will swallow up death forever; and YHVH GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for YHVH has spoken.” – Isaiah 25:8

When a man studies the Torah and cleaves to it, he is strengthened in the Tree of Life, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN, as it is written, “a Tree of Life...” (Mishlei 3:18). Come and behold, When a man is strengthened in the Tree of Life in this world, he is strengthened in it for the World to Come. And when the souls leave this world, grades are prepared for them in the World to Come.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the assemblies; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of G-d – Revelation 2:7

Shalom – May the Most Ancient Holy one of Israel Bless the House of Israel