Making the Jews bitter was not only physical but spiritual, they became distracted from who they are really and this is real bitterness. The lesson.

The entire Chumash Shmos means names because it explains how we go into Galus and how we survive and thrive.

This class explains the unique place of Yosef in Galus: he is both a part of it (not like Yaakov) but altogether above it (not like his brothers). As a result he can initiate it and he can predict it’s end.

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

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.

The particulars of Yosef’s two dreams (the bundles and the stars) teach us things about serving Hashem and Golus. 1) We go in order from lower to higher (even in Golus), 2) Work, nothing real is free, 3) We gather many into one, 4) We must listen and bow to Yosef (the Nassi) or we…

Yaakov was the most successful of the Avos, as all his children were Tzadikim and he had them in Golus.

Bris Mila is another step in Avrohom’s spirirual climb. It was the first (and only) Mitzva that he did that actually elevated the physical.

Yaakov was the most successful of the Avos, as all his children were Tzadikim and he had them in Golus.

Potifar’s wife seduction: The wife of Potifar sees that she must contribute to the future of Yosef and believes that God may work even in strange ways. Yosef’s perspective: the ends don’t justify the means one must follow the law to the letter.