Parsha Inspired Menus - Vayeshev

Maybe it's because two weeks ago I was thinking about the promise to Jacob that his descendents would be as numerous as the dust of the earth (and made maple squares), but I was struck by the imagery of the stars in one of Joseph's famous dreams. These stars have been used in this family before...[Then in the vision, God] took him outside and said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them”—continuing, “So shall your offspring be.” (Bereshit 15:5) In Joseph's dream it's clear that it's the 11 stars of his brothers, but from those 11

stars (plus Joseph) will come the entirety of the Jewish people, the fulfillment of the promise from God to Abraham about his descendents. While this idea does nothing to resolve the issues of Jacob's favoritism, Joseph's lack of awareness of how his dream affects his brothers, or his brothers' violent response, it's an interesting literary parallel and I'd recommend taking note of it with a blueberry pie with star-shaped top crust (dark night sky with stars.) To do that, choose your favorite pastry crust (or buy a ready-made one) and use a star cookie cutter to shape the dough, then place on top of a Blueberry Pie.

Once Joseph is sold into slavery and in Potiphar's home, there is a pasuk that caught my attention.

וַיַּ֣רְא אֲדֹנָ֔יו כִּ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה אִתּ֑וֹ וְכֹל֙ אֲשֶׁר־ה֣וּא עֹשֶׂ֔ה יְהֹוָ֖ה מַצְלִ֥יחַ בְּיָדֽוֹ׃

וַיִּמְצָ֨א יוֹסֵ֥ף חֵ֛ן בְּעֵינָ֖יו וַיְשָׁ֣רֶת אֹת֑וֹ וַיַּפְקִדֵ֙הוּ֙ עַל־בֵּית֔וֹ וְכׇל־יֶשׁ־ל֖וֹ נָתַ֥ן בְּיָדֽוֹ׃

And when [Joseph's] master saw that יהוה was with him and that יהוה lent success to everything he undertook, he took a liking to Joseph. He [Potiphar] made him his personal attendant and put him in charge of his household, placing in his hands all that he owned.

What does it mean that Potiphar, an Eygptian saw that Hashem was with him or that Hashem gave him success? The Egyptians didn't believe in our God, so what's this about? The commentators and midrashists had some interesting ideas. Malbim said "And his master saw - He didn't pay attention to the successes that were natural, but he did pay attention to the successes that were providential... And Yosef had those two different types of success, natural and providential. His master recognized "that Ad-nai was with him", through seeing "that all that he does" - that he succeeded even things that he did that were not naturally successful, because "Ad-nai lent him success" - [meaning] God transformed into success what was "in his hand" through Ad-nai and His providence." In Midrash Tanchuma we are given specifics of this non-natural/providential success. "While he was pouring spiced wine for his master, his master would ask: “What kind of wine are you giving me?” If he replied: “Spiced wine,” his master would say: “I prefer absinthe wine,” and it would change into absinthe wine. If his master demanded an ordinary wine, it would immediately become plain wine, and if he asked for boiled wine, it would turn into boiled wine." So, God was helping Joseph to make sure that whatever he did was

favorable. As an Egyptian, Potiphar would have believed in many gods and in the magical powers that a god could give a practioner, so Potiphar must have felt that Joseph was favored in this way from his god and Potiphar wanted to use that favor for his own gain. It's a good reminder that even though God was with him, Joseph's position is precarious. He is at the mercy of others, as he was at the mercy of his brothers, and will be at the mercy of Pharoah, despite his high position. To bring this midrash for the table (and because it's so fitting for this time of year), make Spiced Wine.

Shabbat Shalom & B'Tayavon!