The Holiday of Chanukah fell upon
our home. We pulled out three Chanukkiyot so that our children could light. We reminded
our eldest daughter to make sure she had a Chanukiya and candles as well. Our
son has started calling me at work, soon after I have finished praying
Mincha/Maariv (the Afternoon and Evening Service). He asks when I will be home
and then he quickly reminds me that with the appearance of the stars in the sky
(Tzeit HaKochavim); it is time to light the Chanukkiya. He tells me to hurry.
The first time he did this, I asked if he was only excited to light the Chanukah
lights because he assumed he would then receive a Chanukah gift. His response
was quite poignant. His excitement was due to the fact that amid the darkness
outside, the Chanukah lights cast a beautiful, almost supernatural glow. I
thought about what he said and during this week as we light our Chanukiyot. I
find the kindled lights to be quite powerful as I watch the news and listen to
Donald Trump spew darkness and ignorance to a populace that is already scared
and always had a historic propensity to fear outsiders (from the 18th century “Irish
need not apply”, to the early twentieth century when Eastern European and
especially Jews were feared to be Communists and Anarchists.) and of course the
infamous episode of the St. Louis otherwise known as the “Voyage of the Damned”.)
I find the kindled lights to offset the darkness and fear that I hear from the
many in the Jewish Community as Canada and the United States prepares to allow
Syrian refugees to resettle in these free, open, democratic places that were
built by those seeking a refuge from religious and political persecution. When
I hear the rhetoric from some within the Jewish community, I first want to question
their patriotism to the United States and Canada; then I want to question their
level of observance. The darkness is so powerful that even those self-professed
observant Jews have forgotten the Torah’s words to welcome the stranger since
we were strangers in a strange land. The Torah reminds us that there shall only
be only law for both the Jew and the “stranger” because the Jews should always
remember that they were strangers in a strange land. Yes, fear has brought a
different type of darkness, even to a people who have always been reminded to be
a light to the nations.
This morning we read from Parsha
Mikeitz. This Parsha is always read during Chanukah. While the Parsha has no
explicit relationship to Chanukah, also known as Chag Urim “The Festival of
Lights”; the implicit relationship is quite powerful. The Parsha begins
with Yosef hurriedly brought from the dungeon to meet Pharaoh after Pharaoh is
troubled by two seemingly different dreams. Yosef, he has been told, is able to
interpret dreams. So Yosef begins to interpret but not before he credits his
gift as coming from Hashem. Yosef not only interprets the dreams he offers
solutions for Pharaoh. As a result, Pharaoh appoints Yosef as Viceroy, the
second most powerful man in Egypt and perhaps the Second most powerful man in
the world. While managing an economic program to
ensure Egypt’s survival during the seven years of famine as foretold in Pharaoh’s
dream, Yosef made sure to build up storehouses with grain. However the famine affected the whole region including
Canaan and Yosef’s father, Jacob and Yosef’s brothers. Eventually, Yosef’s
brothers head down to Egypt in order to buy food. Joseph recognizes them, but
they do not recognize him. Wanting to see his youngest brother Benjamin and his
father Yaakov, Joseph arranges for the brothers to return home. One brother
must remain in Egypt. Then, in order to redeem their brother, all the brothers
including Benjamin must return to Egypt. After that, Joseph frames Benjamin,
keeping in Egypt. The Parsha concludes with the brothers returning to their
father and conveying what happened to Benjamin.
We
can understand the concept of darkness both figuratively and literally;
physically, intellectually or even spiritually. Of course, we can understand
the concept of light in the same way. VaYehi
VaBoker VaTipaem Rucho – and it was
morning; His spirit was agitated,
VaYishlach VaYikra et Kol Chartumei
Mitzrayim V’Et Kol Chochmeha – so he
sent and summoned all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men (Gen.
41:8). Pharaoh had the dream about the seven cows and the seven ears of corn.
Why do we need to know that it was the morning after his dream? How bad could
the dreams been? Based upon the Torah, Pharaoh slept through the night. Granted
he didn’t sleep well. After all we are told that in the morning, his spirit was
agitated. In a sense his spirit was still “in the dark” even though the morning
light was upon him. He brings Yosef out from the dungeon, a place of physical
darkness. However, Yosef, because of his relationship to Hashem, is the
embodiment of light. Pharaoh asks the Egyptian Magicians and the Egyptian wise
men, symbols of intellectual and spiritual light, to interpret the dream; to
cast light upon Pharaoh’s troubled/darkened spirit. They are unable to bring
light or to offer a solution. However Yosef, the embodiment of Hashem’s light,
is capable of casting light upon Pharaoh’s darkness. To Pharaoh’s credit; his
fear is not directed at Yosef. Instead Pharaoh’s fear is directed at the
ramifications of famine upon Egypt and how a famine would affect his
authority. Even Yosef, conceals his
identity from his brothers, he remains in the darkness so to speak while his
brothers, are unable to conceal their identity from him. Yosef, is the embodiment of spiritual and
physical light as he always knows what is happening and what will happen. Despite Yosef being in a pit, and in a
dungeon, Yosef is light. He is able to transmit his light, his knowledge, his
spiritual strength to those around him without being diminished; much like a
candle transmits a flame to another candle.
So
as we continue to light the lights of the Chanukkiya amid the physical darkness
that comes with the night time; I am struck by the actual transmission of the
light from wick to wick. I am also struck by the beautiful light that is
created by us. The transmission of knowledge like a flame doesn’t diminish the
source. It only diminishes darkness and ignorance. Yes, I understand people are
scared of the rising tide of darkness. We are all a little scared of darkness.
However, if we become overwhelmed by the darkness, we will be too scared of the
fact that our souls are agitated. We will become paralyzed rather than ask what
we can do to eliminate the darkness. Rather than listening to those who would
only bring more darkness and more paralysis, we should listen to those he bring
light and bring solutions.
Peace,
Rav Yitz
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