Parasha Deep Dive Podcast Episode 07

Joseph, Gaza & The Holy Mistake: Why the Brothers Really Sold Him | Mikeitz Deep Dive with Dr. Elad Ben Elul

December 14, 20252 min read

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Order Dr. Elad Ben Elul's new book with Rabbi Manis Friedman, "To Win a War," here: ⁠⁠https://a.co/g6EFOq8⁠⁠

What if the sale of Joseph wasn't an act of jealousy, but a calculated spiritual decision by the Holy Brothers to save the Jewish people from assimilation? And how does a hostage in a dark tunnel in Gaza find the strength to dance?

In this profound episode of Parasha Deep Dive, host Shlomo Godsi is rejoined by Dr. Elad Ben Elul (author and student of Rabbi Manis Friedman) to dismantle the children's story version of Parashat Mikeitz. They explore the ideological war between Joseph’s "infiltration" strategy and the Brothers' "isolation" strategy, a conflict that defines Jewish history to this day.

We also bridge the gap between ancient Egypt and modern Israel, sharing the spine-tingling, true story of hostage Omer Shem Tov, who found a specific book of Torah in the tunnels of Gaza that changed his entire reality.

In This Episode, We Uncover:

  • The Shepherd vs. The Politician: The deep, mystical disagreement between the Brothers (who believed holiness requires isolation) and Joseph (who believed holiness must conquer the darkest corruption).

  • The "Setup" in the Pit: Why the Brothers believed Joseph’s vision was an existential threat to the Abrahamic covenant, and why his descent to Egypt was actually a Divine "planting" of holiness.

  • The Roots of Antisemitism: A fascinating look at why the Egyptians refused to eat with the Hebrews, and the spiritual psychology behind why the world really hates the Jews (hint: it’s not about what we do, but what we are).

  • A Light in Gaza: The viral, heartbreaking, and inspiring story of hostage Omer Shem Tov, who discovered the Dvar Malchut on Parashat Miketz while in captivity, and how he used Joseph’s story to survive the darkness.

  • Viktor Frankl & The Chassidic Mindset: How to shift from a "victim" mindset to a "mission" mindset, transforming suffering into a platform for revealing Godliness.

Follow the Parasha Deep Dive podcast to ensure you never miss these essential conversations.

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On the Alshech's Yortzeit, I Received a Message... After morning prayers in the Alshech Shul, I would learn the Alshech’s Torah, just me and him. It was an intimate process that began my close connection with this great sage. Then, on Erev Pesach 2023, at 2 AM, I received a clear message: open a center of learning here, at the Alshech Shul, for the English-speaking communities around the world. I later realized that very night was the Alshech’s Yortzeit. That realization still gives me the chills! This Academy is not just a project; it is a response to a divine call. I humbly ask you to join me in answering it.

Shlomo Godsi

On the Alshech's Yortzeit, I Received a Message... After morning prayers in the Alshech Shul, I would learn the Alshech’s Torah, just me and him. It was an intimate process that began my close connection with this great sage. Then, on Erev Pesach 2023, at 2 AM, I received a clear message: open a center of learning here, at the Alshech Shul, for the English-speaking communities around the world. I later realized that very night was the Alshech’s Yortzeit. That realization still gives me the chills! This Academy is not just a project; it is a response to a divine call. I humbly ask you to join me in answering it.

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