Parashat Miketz – Shabbat 12/12/2026

By Rabbi Ellen S. Wolintz-Fields

In Parashat Miketz, we move from silence and fragmentation toward unexpected revelation. Joseph, once thrown into a pit and forgotten in prison, suddenly emerges as interpreter of dreams and viceroy of Egypt. What seemed like abandonment begins to reveal hidden providence. The same brother who was not heard by his family now becomes the one through whom nations are sustained.

This dramatic reversal connects deeply to Shema Koleinu—“hear our voice.” In prayer, we often speak from places where we feel unseen or delayed, unsure whether our words are making an impact. Joseph’s journey embodies that experience: years pass in silence, yet his life is not ignored. The turning point of Parashat Miketz reminds us that being “heard” does not always mean immediate response—it can mean being held within a larger unfolding story.