Yosef asks his brothers, “Is my father still alive?”, though he knows the answer. He says it to underscore the fact that Yaakov had suffered indescribably and should not be kept in suffering for one extra moment. In these words Yaakov’s Galus is being transformed to redemption.

Yosef is very great, but Yaakov sends Yehuda to make a Yeshiva where the students have no other occupation aside from learning Torah. Toraso Umnaso is very unique and it has can and must exist among Jews even in the worst of times.

Yosef leaves hints for his brothers as to who he is. According to RaShI they didn’t keep Kosher but he still does things to demonstrates the kind of importance in his treatment of them to lead them to the conclusion, that he is their brother.

The brothers finally stand in front of Yosef, and debate… Teshuva!

Ya’akov tells his children to get ready to be dependent on the Non-Jews in the time of famine and that this is how God’s miracle would reach them, because he senses that Golus is coming. In Golus we get our food and knowledge (from Hashem, but) through the non-Jew. This is the meaning of ‘Lama…

Ya’akov is talking to his sons about their upcoming trip to Egypt. He knows what his sons told him, but he senses something more is at hand, so he davens. He explains that he’s davening just in case. But the brothers, who know the whole truth, know just how important the prayer is.

Yosef’s advice isn’t separate from the dream’s interpretation, it is a part of it. This demonstrates his full intelligence and raises him up to the level of vizier. In these dreams opposites converge, Galus and Geula, in the source of Yosef the two are one.

Yosef knows by process of elimination that he best not tell his father he is alive even once appointed Vizier. He figures out that God is in on it, and He will give the signal when is the time to disclose this information to Ya’akov.

Miketz the end, (RaShI) or the beginning, (Even Ezra). The combined understanding of both defines the spirit of Miketz. The darkest moment is also the brightest.

Yosef dreams so everyone in his generation dreams. The dreams of the Pharaoh are opposite of Yosef’s. Yosef’s dreams lead to the purpose of the world, while Pharaoh’s simply set that up.