Yosef expresses his feelings about going down to Mitzrayim in two ways and by naming his two sons, Menashe, and Ephraim . The oldest son, represents his feeling of not wanting ever to forget his father’s home where he comes from, and not to get affected by the society around him. Ephraim represents a gratitude and thankfulness of his multiplying and growing, despite his difficulties, therefore, Menasha was the oldest, because that is the first feeling you have to have however, Yakov mainly blesses Ephraim, because that is the ultimate purpose in this world is to grow despite the difficulties.

לקו״ש טו-ב

Lights can be used for multiple reasons. For honor, like in a Shul, for Shabbos candles, candles of the Bais Hamikdash and the candles of the Chanukah Menorah. However, there is a difference, the Shabbos, candles and candles of the Bais Hamikdush are there for a reason to bring peace in the home, and to show that Hashem rests there. However , the candles of the Chanukah Menorah is the light for itself, representing the essential bonds of a Jew and Hashem that’s beyond logic, and that the Greeks could not handle fighting against it, triggering a response from the Jews, in the same way beyond logic, the few against the many the weak against the strong.

לקו״ש ג

Success is not necessarily hard work. It’s a gift from Hashem called Mazal. It can express itself in two ways. One where everything you do your successful, and therefore people attribute the success to you. Another way, is where you’re so wildly successful the people realize it’s only from Hashem. The reason for this success is because you make a Kali , vessel to receive these blessings. The less your ego is involved the more the blessing. Joseph, first working as a servant by Potiphar accomplished a lot, and was very successful and therefore people attributed his success to him , however, later, when he was put in prison where they crush your individuality, his success then was only attributed to Hashem.

לקו״ש כה

Are our challenges real? Yakov tells the people of Shchem if you want to marry Dina, you must remove idols from within you,which means mentally removing the idea of a foreign God from your head, because it’s all just in the head it’s not real that a piece of wood could be a God. So too, all obstacles toward the mitzvahs are not real because the only true reality is really Hashem, so why does He make it seem like there are obstacles it’s whole purpose is only to be like a steppingstone to uplift you to be much better.

לקו״ש ל -ב

Yakov’s possessions were mainly sheep. He traded in some for bulls and donkeys, because at his core he was submissive as a sheep. His ego was completely submitted to the ultimate truth and power, Hashem, and therefore if he had an adversary and needed to fight them, he would stand up forcefully and strongly like a bull and a donkey to fight his enemy however he knew he wasn’t fighting from his ego, but from his complete submissiveness to the ultimate power, Hashem.

לקו״ש טו- ג

Just like Hashem told Yitzchok his true place is Eretz Israel, so too, must we all know that are true place is Eretz Israel. In addition we learn from the Avos how to live our lives from Avrohom Avinu we learn that even those that sit and learn, should also go out into the world, reach out and inspire others, and from Yitzchok we learn that even if you one that spends your time going out reaching out and inspiring others you must set aside, time to sit and study Torah.

לקו”ש כה-ב

There are two reasons why somebody would be kind, one out of greatness and power and wealth, where he has the feeling that he would like to share a little bit, there he takes most for himself and gives away a little bit, there is another kind of kindness which comes from humility, where he feels everybody else is entitled, so he takes a little bit for himself and gives away the rest even to somebody that’s very simple, and he’s willing to put himself in danger for that, that was the kindness of a Avrohom Avinu, therefore meriting the two Mitzvahs of the ashes of the Para Aduma and the dirt of the Sota, both representing kindness from humility. לקו״ש כה-ב