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Selections from Rabbi Baruch Epstein (Tosefes Beracha)

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בראשית פרק מד, יח וַיִּגַּשׁ אֵלָיו יְהוּדָה וַיֹּאמֶר בִּי אֲדֹנִי יְדַבֶּר־נָא עַבְדְּךָ דָבָר בְּאָזְנֵי אֲדֹנִי וְאַל־יִחַר אַפְּךָ בְּעַבְדֶּךָ כִּי כָמֹוךָ כְּפַרְעֹה

What is the connection between not being angry and being like Paroh? Yehudah was requesting that the Viceroy (Yosef) listen to his words and not be angry which would block out his words. Thus, Yehudah said that he should act like Paroh, who acts regally and does not get upset (when no one interpreted his dreams, he did not get upset but sought out others to interpret).

בראשית פרק מה, כג וּלְאָבִיו שָׁלַח כְּזֹאת עֲשָׂרָה חֲמֹרִים נֹשְׂאִים מִטּוּב מִצְרָיִם

The Aggadah (Megilah 16b) says that Yosef sent to Yaacov aged wine that is appreciated by older people, and due to its preciousness, it was called the ‘good of Egypt.’ This is difficult since aged wine is desired by old and young, and what was so special about being from Egypt.

It is possible to explain that most people desire their food to be fresh, and the fresher (the ‘younger’) the better. However, concerning wines, the older is more valuable and desired. Further, a concept exists that a person desires wine aged more years that that person has lived. Like the explanation of the verse in Esther (1,7) ויין רב מלכות that the aged wine was served to each guest exceeded their age. Additionally, in Egypt they had a very heavy rain only once in seventy years which was especially good for the grapes (which became fermented wine of a highly valued status).

Therefore, only in Egypt a wine existed older than the age of Yaacov (130 at that time). Thus, in order to honor his father Yosef sent a wine that could be appreciated that was called the ‘best of Egypt.’

בראשית פרק מה, ט מַהֲרוּ וַעֲלוּ אֶל־אָבִי וַאֲמַרְתֶּם אֵלָיו כֹּה אָמַר בִּנְךָ יוֹסֵף שָׂמַנִי אֱלֹקִים לְאָדוֹן לְכָל־מִצְרָיִם רְדָה אֵלַי אַל־תַּעֲמֹד

Elsewhere (42,2), we are told the derasha that the Jews where actually going to be in Egypt for 210 years, the gematria of רדו. At this verse, we have a further allusion, since it took about a year for the household to pack up and move to Egypt, and only 209 years remained, the verse uses the word רדה.

בראשית פרק מה, כג וּלְאָבִיו שָׁלַח כְּזֹאת עֲשָׂרָה חֲמֹרִים נֹשְׂאִים מִטּוּב מִצְרָיִם וְעֶשֶׂר אֲתֹנֹת נֹשְׂאֹת בָּר וָלֶחֶם וּמָזוֹן לְאָבִיו לַדָּרֶךְ

Yosef sent ten of each animal as a gift to Yaacov since he knew that Yaacov’s custom was to take maaser from all earnings and gifts. Therefore, Yosef wished to honor his father by making it easier to take maaser, one animal from the gifted animals.

בראשית פרק מו, כז כָּל־הַנֶּפֶשׁ לְבֵית־יַעֲקֹב הַבָּאָה מִצְרַיְמָה שִׁבְעִים:

In general, the verse mentions 70, but only counts 69 particular names. Many answers are provided by the commentators.

It is possible to suggest another answer. The verse ובני דן חושים says the children (plural) of Dan, which were only one, Chushim. The explanation is that the children of Dan refer to the actual child Chushim, and additionally, to the numerical plurality that became the tribe of Dan (as if two and plural). Similarly, the general count of 70 included the additional reference to this populated tribe. Yet when counting the particular people, only 69 people existed.

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