ParshaPix

PARSHA-PIX - Parshat Mikeitz

 

PARSHA-PIX
This is a repeat from the past, but quite usable when going over the sedra with children or Shabbat guests. At the top are 7 happy, contented cows, followed by 7 emaciated cows. So too, 7 healthy, full stalks of grain and 7 withered ones. Laurel & Hardy are also a reference to the dreams of Par'o. They are HA'SHAMEIN V'HA'RAZEH in Hebrew. 20% was Yosef's suggestion for the famine tax during the years of plenty. The scarab ring went to Yosef. 10+1+? was the brothers' answer to Yosef's question about their family. Botnim (now peanuts but originally pistachio) were part of Yaakov's gift package.The cup is Yosef's used to frame Binyamin. The double sacks is the MISHNEH KESEF they brought for their buying trip.

TTriddles

Here are last week's (VAYEISHEV) TTriddles:
[1] Caph, Mira, Saiph, Avior, Hadar, Spica, Shaula, Sadr, Wezen, Dubhe, Nunki
[2] Joforjackson
[3] Her two were, some say, less than her two
[4] ...which made it 1919, if we don't count the first two years as Bais Sefer Yeshiva.
[5] The initial connection between Chanuka and Purim
[6] Namesakes with their high-ranking officers.
[7] and one real, old-time PPP

The answers, please...
[1] These are 11 stars, not particularly the ones from Yosef's dream, but 11 stars nonetheless. In choosing the names for this TTriddle, well-known stars were avoided. Vega, Polaris, Alpha Centauri, Castor, Pollax were not used, so as not to make the TTriddle too easy. Spica (from Virgo) was the only one of the 11 that might have been more recognizable. FYI, all eleven named stars are from a list of the 80 or so brightest stars in the sky. Caph is one of the stars of the W, Cassiopeia. Saiph is in Orion, probably one of the sword stars, as the name (Arabic but similar to the Hebrew) implies. Wezen is in the Big Dog along with Sirius which didn't make this list because it is too well-known. Dubhe means Bear (again, Arabic, similar to the Hebrew) and is one of the stars in the Big Dipper (which is part of the Great Bear). Hadar is one of the bright stars in the Centaur (but not nearly as close to us as the more famous Alpha Centauri. Sadr is in the Swan, and Shaula is in Scorpio. Nunki is in the Archer; the name sounded cute. Astronomy is an enjoyable study or hobby and it is a response to Yeshayahu's telling us to lift our eyes heavenward and see Who created these.

[2] Intended answer was the trade of Jo (Yosef) for a Jackson, which is $20. However, Jackson is another name for Yosef, son of Yaakov (Jack).

[3] Solvers got very close, just missing the final point. The two women referred to, each having two, are Tamar in Vayeishev and Rivka Imeinu from Parshat To'l'dot. The word in the Torah for Rivka's twins is TOMIM, TAV-VAV-MEM-MEM. With Tamar, the word is spelled fully - TAV-ALEF-VAV-MEM-YUD-MEM. The difference is a YUD and an ALEF, the initials of YEISH OMRIM, some say. Hence, her two (Rivka's twins) were a YUD and an ALEF less than her two (Peretz & Zerach). 

[4] This one is a clear example of the Dubno Magid's famous mashal as to how he comes up with his m'shalim. It's like the expert archer who devulged the secret of his skill. He shoots the arrow into the side of his barn wall and then paints a target arround the arrowhead, giving him a bull's-eye every time. The answer to this TTriddle came first. V'EILEH TO'L'DOT YAAKOV, YOSEF BEN !& SHANA... Just remove the comma and you have, and this is the story of Yaakov Yosef (yeshiva, that is — a.k.a. RJJ). In "researching" this TTriddle, I discovered that RJJ was founded in 1900 by Rabbi Yaakov Josef, as the Beis Sefer Yeshiva. Upon his death in 1902, the school was renamed in his memory. That's were the 1919 comes from, if you take off the first two years before it became RJJ.

[5] Play on the word INITIAL, this is a reference to MA'OZ TZUR, whose stanzas initial letters spell the name MORDECHAI. Thus, the initial connection between Chanuka and Purim.

[6] The namesakes here are Yehudit of Chanuka story fame and Yehudit, wife of Eisav. The former was involved with the general of the Syrian army whom she beheaded. The latter is associated with a whole series of ALUF this and ALUF that.

[7] The PPP. It was correctly solved by two or three solvers. The bull is YOSEF, as in B'chor Shoro Hadar Lo. The bear is the wife of Potifar, as Rashi says, G-d said to Yosef (so to speak), your father is grieving for you and you are playing with your curls?! I shall bring on the bear... That which kept the bear at bay is symbolized by the SHALSHELET, the zigzag Torah note over the word VA'Y'MA'EIN, and he (Yosef) refused (her advances).
Special mention of RHM, Zvi Roth, and MM/Bklyn for their solutions and efforts.

This week's TTriddles:

[1] What makes 2 12, besides adding 10?
[2] Who was an occupational therapist?
[3] P to Y + 1176 = A to M
[4] Who besides Yosef would have satisfied the criterion set down by Par'o?


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