Drash Cards for Miketz (5761)

by Marc Mangel

• I want to consider Ch 41, v 44-45.  All the commentators agree that Poti-phera is Potiphar and the Osnat is his daughter.  But who is Joseph’s mother in law?  How could Joseph even consider such a marriage?

• The Midrash teaches that Potiphar’s wife  had a vision that her blood was linked to the future of the Jewish people.  Rashi even teaches that her actions were ‘purely’ intended.

• What do we learn?  First, that Sarah and Rivka had perfect vision but, secondly, that Potiphar’s wife had imperfect vision.

• Also: one cannot ram destiny down the throat of others, which is what Potiphar’s wife tried to do.

• Amazingly, Joseph did the same thing (Ch 37, v5ff)