JCC Association's Early Childhood Curriculum Project 'This New Month'

December 10, 2007 - January 7, 2008

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This Month's Torah Portions:

Overview
Pharaoh's Dream
Joseph Becomes Royalty
The Famine
Joseph and his Brothers
Joseph Reveals his Identity

Joseph Becomes Royalty
Genesis Chapter 41, Verses 39 and 46

Verse 39: "Vayomer Par'o El Yosaif: Acharai Hodee'ah Elokeem Ot'cha Et Kol Zote, Ain Navon V'chacham Kamocha"

"And Pharaoh said to Joseph: Since G-d has informed you about all this, there is no one as understanding and wise as you"

Verse 46: " ViYosaif Ben Shlosheem Shana Bi'amdo Leefnai Par'o Meiech Meetzrayeem, Vayaitzai Yosaif Meeleefnai Phar'o Vaya'avor Bichol Eretz Meetzrayeem"

"And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh the king of Egypt, and Joseph went from before Pharaoh and he passed through all of the land of Egypt"

Overview of the Biblical Text:

Not only did Pharaoh choose Joseph to be in charge of collecting and saving food, he recognized his G-D given wisdom and, therefore, wanted to benefit from that as well. He, therefore, appointed Joseph to be his assistant- second to the king, outranked by only Pharaoh himself. He dressed Joseph in royal garments, placed his royal ring on Joseph's finger and put a gold chain around his neck. Beginning with this incident, we see the truth of Joseph's dreams begin to play themselves out. He was indeed elevated to royalty as he had dreamed.

At the time of his appointment, Joseph was thirty years old. Genesis Chapter 41, Verse 46 provides us with a chronological perspective and an historical time frame. Joseph wasted no time in implementing his plan. He immediately passed through Egypt in order to establish storage silos and to encourage the Egyptians to save little by little the extra that they had. At this time, he married Asnat/Asenath as well. She bore him two sons- Menasheh/Mennasseh and Ephraim.