1. From where do we see that even if something seems a good idea, nevertheless if it is copied from Aysov, it can lead to misfortune?
2. Why did Yosef tell his dreams to his brothers? Surely he could see that these dreams irked them? And then to tell the dreams to his father Yaakov in front of them — why?
3. Why should Yosef have brought reports of his brothers’ misbehaviour to their father Yaakov? Didn’t he realize that this would make him vigorously disliked by them?
4. When the brothers see how Yosef brings his reports of their misbehaviour to their father Yaakov, why do they react in such a drastic way? To sell one’s brother into slavery in a foreign country — even the worst people do not act like that towards their own brother!
5. Why was Yaakov so anxious about the safety of the brothers grazing their sheep in the vicinity of Shechem that he feels he has to send Yosef to make sure that they are safe?
6. When the brothers see the inconsolable grief of their father Yaakov at the disappearance of Yosef, why didn’t they try their hardest to buy him back from the slave-traders?
7. Why didn’t Yosef somehow let his father know that he was alive in Egypt?
8. Why didn’t Yosef try to get back to his father Yaakov in Kenaan? It almost seems as if he accepted that it was a good thing that he should be in the Egyptian dungeon!
9. How come that Potifar did not have Yosef executed? After all, the accusation by Potifar’s wife was most serious and Yosef is only a foreigner and a slave boy?
10. Why does the Torah refer to the Chief Cup-bearer and the Lord Royal Baker by their titles? After all, they are now disgraced prisoners, awaiting even possible execution, so why does the Torah’s narrative not simply call them “prisoners”?
11. How could it be that the offence of the Royal Master Baker warranted the death penalty? Even for barbaric Egypt and even allowing for the violent times of the ancient world, surely a small stone in the bread (as our Chachommim tell us was the offence) is hardly deserving the death penalty, is it?
12. What is the connexion between the Sidra וישב and the Haftorah?
13. What connexion is there between Yosef of the Sidra and the Novvi of the Haftorah?
