The Rebbe often said quoting the Rambam that a person can change the entire world with one word or thought or action. We see this most clearly in this week’s parsha.
As we know from the previous parsha, Yosef was sold by his brother’s and ended up in Mitzrayim in charge of the house of Potifar. Then, due to the episode with Potifar’s wife ended up in jail where he interpreted the dreams of the Sar HaMashkin and the Sar HaOfim, Pharoh’s butler and baker. Then, because of Pharoh’s dreams and the fact that the Sar HaMashkin remembered him, was taken out of jail.
Later, he became the leader in Mitzrayim due to the unique fashion in which he interpreted the dreams. He explained that the dreams had a similar content, that both the dream of cows and wheat stalks were one and the same. They both pointed to seven years of plenty and seven of famine, the two dreams painted one picture. Most importantly his interpretation was unique in that it came with a horah- a directive. Yosef taught that the sets of seven years interrelated to each other. During the seven good years they must be thinking and planning for the seven of famine, so that the seven years of famine would be nourished by the seven good years.
Because of all of this, Yosef saved his family as well as all of Mitzrayim from starvation in the years of famine. Therefore the entire Jewish people are named after Yosef as it says in the pasuk; “noheig katzon Yosef”
The Torah revealed to us what it was in reality that triggered this chain of events. One day, while in prison, Yosef saw that the Sar HaMashkin and the Sar HaOfim, Pharoh’s butler and baker were looking upset. He could have easily said to himself the following. These men used to serve Pharoh inside his palace. They were on top of the world. Now look at them, they have no family to be with here, and no hope for the future. I cannot let them out of this place, how could I possibly make them feel better? Instead of looking the other way, he approached them and asked them “Why are you down?” He tried to lift their spirits with a good vort! He was ready to do that to see if he might possibly be of service to them. Since they saw that he was sincere, they told him their dreams… From there one thing led to another and all of this was due to one good word.
This teaches each one of us that with one good word toward another person we can improve their life and change the entire world and help hasten the revelation of Moshiach now!
(Based upon Sichos from Parshas Miketz-Channukah)