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

The Famine
Genesis Chapter 42, Verse 2

Verse 2: "Vayomer: Heenai Shamatee Kee Yesh Shever Bimeetzrayeem. Ridu Shama Visheevru Lanu Meesham Vineechye Vilo Namut"

"And he (Jacob) said: behold I have heard that there is food in Egypt. Go down to there and buy for us from there so that we will live and not die."

Overview of the Biblical Text:

Just as Joseph predicted, there were seven years of plenty in Egypt and then the famine began. This famine did not only affect the country of Egypt, but the surrounding regions as well. The land of Canaan where Jacob and his family lived was included. It became known that because of the wisdom of the king, in Egypt it was still possible to purchase food. Therefore, when food started to become scarce in Jacob's home, he sent his sons to Egypt to buy the provisions they needed. Jacob only sent ten of his sons. He did not want to send Benjamin his only remaining son from Rachel for fear that something might happen to him while he was away.

Jacob instructed his sons to enter Egypt through different gates. He did not want them to make their appearance into Egypt together as one group so as not to arouse anyone's suspicion. Meanwhile, Joseph had implemented a system whereby he checked the entrance logs into Egypt on a daily basis. He would scan the list of new arrivals into Egypt to see if perhaps anyone from his family had come to buy food. Sure enough, on the day of their arrival, he immediately noticed that although they entered through separate gates. Ten of his brothers were now in Egypt.

Discussion Questions/Activity Ideas:

Planning Ahead-Because of Joseph's plan, the people in Egypt were able to set aside food for them to eat during the famine. Discuss how sometimes what we do today can be used to help us or someone else in the future. For example, if we plant a tomato plant, we will some day have tomatoes to eat; If we plant a fruit tree, people will have fruit, shade, etc. for years to come. Think of something that you can do as a class (such as planting a garden, collecting food to give to a shelter, etc.) that can be used at a later date.