Parshah Columnists Miketz

Even in Egypt, Joseph remained committed to the religion of his youth and the G‑d of his forefathers. What was his secret?

Why did they find it so very difficult to accept the guidance of a mystic brother, yet so easy to be subservient to a foreign Pharaoh?

Imagine if we were able to take a half an hour out of our day and just sit and relax, completely guilt free. And yet, for eight straight days this is exactly what we are commanded to do...

Sitting on the steps of the Montgomery County courthouse appeared to be a homeless man. My husband is a lawyer, and as he passed by this man on his way into the building, the man called out, “Hey, rabbi! Give me a blessing.”

“And it came to pass, at the end of two full years” signals that the time has come for something to occur. The “how” of the matter is trivial – Pharaoh has a dream, the chief butler happens to be present, other events align, and ultimately, they all cross the threshold simultaneously, reaching their ketz at precisely the right time.

In order for their descendants to survive the harsh exile, Joseph’s brothers, who were the heads of the tribes of Israel, had to experience the oppression and accusations of the Egyptian monarch.

Does one really become an overnight success from one moment to the next? It normally takes years of quiet work.

Brilliant dream interpretation. But who asked you for any advice? Where does a young man, who a moment ago was languishing in prison, get the temerity to offer eitzos -- unsolicited advice -- to none other than the king himself?

You must never detach the years of plenty from the years of famine. When you experience plenty, do not let it blind your vision and desensitize you from what is truly important in life.

Do miracles happen today? When opening this weeks Torah portion we will see two different sorts of miracles and how we could see miracles in our lives today.

A situation which has occurred many times in the history of the Jewish people: the non-Jewish ruling power appoints a wise Jew to a senior position as advisor or administrator...

Is there really such a thing as a "Jewish work ethic"? If yes, where did it originate? Who is the only man dubbed by the Bible "a successful man"?

Our GPS may tell us where we are, but does it also tell us who we are?

When we understand that bullying behavior is often rooted in emotional starvation, we can respond with compassion and loving strength.

When the Egyptians come for food during the years of famine, Joseph orders them to be circumcised. Why would Joseph make such a peculiar command?

I think back to the thousands of hours the Rebbe devoted to serving the needs and whims of individuals. If he had mastered the art of delegation why did he personally have to stand for hours every Sunday handing out dollar bills?

Don’t run away from the dream, don’t look for some other meaning. If the cosmic slumber of galut presents you with the paradox of the fat cow and the lean cow grazing together, make the dream the solution. Even Pharaoh recognizes good advice when he sees it.

We alcoholics and addicts know all too well how fast and easy payoffs come back to haunt us. But this pertains not only to our drinking days but to our recovery as well...

How does a Jew speak to a non-Jew about G‑d? What is particular and what is universal in the religious life? In its approach to this, Judaism is unique.

What we want to happen, happens, but not always when we expect, or in the way we expect, or merely because we wanted it to happen.

A disguise is an act of hiding—from others, and perhaps from oneself. From G‑d, however, we cannot, nor do we need to, hide.

Where is that fine line between healthy self-compassion and debilitating self-pity?

What lesson can we take from Joseph? Why did Manasseh come first? How does this connect to Chanukah?

Life sends all of us harsh tests and trials. Joseph teaches us the two essential keys to survive them.

How did Joseph have the proper leadership skills to be the most politically powerful Jew of all time?