The Jewish people concluded the eight days of Chanukah this week. Halacha (Jewish Law) instructs that each household must light a Chanukiya. However, if there is a desire to Hadur Mitzvah (beautify the commandment), each person may light his/her own Chanukiyah. In our home, we have the “house” Chanukiya that I light and our children have their own. When each child leaves for their gap year, university, or to live and work in another city, they take their Chanukiya with them. Because of the pandemic, three of our four children happen to be home for Chanukkah. As a result, our family has lit at least three Chanukiyot on each of the eight nights. On the last night of Chanukkah, when three Chanukiyot were lit, the most spiritual light glowed in our window. I looked at my wife, I looked at my children, our eighteen-year-old daughter in Israel joined us through Whatsapp, and I truly felt blessed. As I looked at my eldest daughter. I didn’t look at her remembering a little girl. Instead, I saw a thirty-year-old woman who is incredibly accomplished, well respected in her career, and sought after for her advice and ability by those who seek public office. Through that powerful Chanukkah light, I saw a thirty-year-old woman who has already accomplished so much.
This week’s Parsha is Mikeitz. This is Yosef’s coming out party. He is released from prison in order to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams. First, he informs Pharaoh that God has given him the gift of interpretation, and then he successfully interprets the two dreams. Pharaoh is so impressed, and so trusting of Yosef, that he makes Yosef his right-hand man. Yosef becomes responsible for preparing Egypt for the famine that will occur. When the famine strikes Egypt, neighboring lands are affected, including Canaan and Yosef’s family. Seeking relief from the famine, Yosef's brothers go down to Egypt. Yosef recognizes them, but he does not reveal his identity. Rather, he tests their moral growth; he purposefully frames the youngest brother, Benjamin. Yosef wants to determine whether the brothers are capable of protecting one of their own.
Throughout the Parsha, Yosef embodies two personas. There is the Yosef that we know: son of Yaakov, despised by his brothers and wise beyond his years having experienced and learned from life’s’ ups and downs. Yosef also has a public/professional persona in which people seek out his advice and insight. It began in Potifar’s home when he improved the household finances. Yosef's professional development and expertise continued in prison when he successfully interpreted dreams. Recalling his own experience with Yosef's interpreting dreams, the wine steward recommends Yosef to Pharaoh in order to interpret Pharaoh’s dream. Yosef interprets the dream correctly. Ultimately, Pharaoh makes Yosef his second in command. Yosef is given the responsibility to save Egypt from the impending famine. The people have given him the title “Avrech”. The Talmudic Midrash explains that AvRech is derived from two words: Av (father) in wisdom and Rach (tender) in terms of years. Indeed several verses later (41:46), the Torah tells us: V’Yosef Ben Shloshim Shanah– Now Joseph was thirty years old. The Egyptian empire, its economy, and national security were in the hands of a thirty-year-old!. There are not many 30-year-olds who become the second most powerful person in the most powerful nation. Yosef’s numerous life experiences and his ability to learn from those ups and downs, and his ability to express himself to Pharaoh suggests that Yosef had become an “old soul”, a great reservoir of wisdom, worthy of the name “AvRech”.
As we read how Yosef is regarded by Pharaoh and the Egyptian people, we understand that Yosef is no longer the arrogant 17-year old hated by his brothers. He has suffered the consequences for mistakes he has made. He also has suffered as a victim of unfortunate circumstances. As Yosef grew up and matured; he learned how to listen to people: wealthy officials of the state, convicted felons warden’s, and of course Pharoah. Indeed, Yosef has a gift beyond the ability to interpret dreams. Yosef’s experiences have left him humble and approachable with the ability to connect to all types of people from all walks of life. The reader has been afforded the opportunity to watch this teenager grow up into this incredibly polished and powerful man. Yes, looking at our thirty-year-old daughter in the Chanukkah candlelight, it dawned on me that I have been blessed to watch her grow up into the incredibly polished strong young woman that is highly regarded by her friends, colleagues, and mentors. For our three younger children who are only now embarking on their path, our hope is that whatever career path they choose, they will work hard, become a credit to their profession, and enjoy the same Shem Tov (good name/reputation) that their sister has achieved.
