Riddles of the Week

Riddles of the Week

(For answers see above)

1. The pasuk (45:23) tells us: ולאביו שלח כזאת עשרה חמורים נושאים מטוב מצרים – “Yosef sent to his father Ya’akov, ten donkeys laden with goodies from Egypt.” Rashi writes: ששלח לו יין ישן שדעת זקנים נוחה הימנו – “He sent old wine, which is pleasing for the minds of elders.” Why did Yosef send wine? Why is old wine referred to as the “Good of Mitzrayim”? Where did Yosef manage to get wine in Mitzrayim which wasn’t yayin nesach [wine served for avodah zorah]? What connection is there between this and Chanukah? Finally, why did he send so much wine?
2. Just before sending his brothers back to Ya’akov in Canaan, Yosef warned them (45:24) not to become agitated on the journey. According to one of Rashi’s explanations, Yosef was advising them not to travel too quickly by taking large steps, as the Gemara in Ta’anis (10b) teaches that doing so causes a person to lose 1/500th of his eyesight. Why doesn’t a person become completely blind after taking 500 large steps?
3. In this week’s parsha we learn: “That Yosef gave to all the brothers a change of clothing” (45:22). Why did Yosef send them clothes, were they lacking clothes? If one kills someone accidentally, is he obligated to recompensate the sons who tore kriah, for their clothes?
4. In this week’s parsha we learn how Ya’akov and Yosef are finally reunited after many years (46:29). When Yosef met with his father after many years did he recite the berachos of “she’hechayanu” and “mechayeh hameisim”? And do we recite these berachos today?
5. Yosef told his brothers (46:34) to tell Pharaoh that they were shepherds so he would allow them to live separately in Goshen. Rashi explains that Egyptians hated shepherds because they worshipped sheep. Although it makes sense that they would despise anybody who eats sheep, why should they hate the shepherds who take care of them?