פָּרָשַׁת מִקֵּץ

Parshat Mikeitz tells us how Yosef rose to rule Mitzrayim and how his brothers came before him. After two more years in prison, Yosef is brought to interpret Pharaoh's dreams of seven fat and seven lean cows, and seven full and seven thin ears of grain: seven years of plenty and then seven of famine, decreed by Hashem. He advises storing grain, and Pharaoh makes him second only to the throne over all Mitzrayim, gives him a wife, Asnat, and two sons are born to him, Menashe and Efrayim. When the famine comes, Yosef sells grain to Mitzrayim and to all the world.

Yaakov sends ten sons to buy grain, keeping Binyamin home. Yosef recognizes his brothers, but they do not recognize him. He accuses them of spying, holds Shimon, and demands they bring their youngest brother; their money is returned secretly in their sacks, and Yaakov refuses to send Binyamin. When the grain runs out, Yehudah takes responsibility for Binyamin, and Yaakov lets him go with a gift and double money. Yosef receives them in his house, weeps in private at the sight of Binyamin, feasts them in the order of their ages, and gives Binyamin five portions. Then he has his silver goblet hidden in Binyamin's sack and sends his steward after them. The goblet is found, the brothers return, and Yosef declares that Binyamin alone will remain as his slave. The parsha ends at that moment of judgment, with Yehudah about to step forward. Parshat Mikeitz is read on Shabbat Chanukah almost every year.