Parshas Miketz 5766

Commentary by Rabbi Ephraim Nisenbaum

---

This week’s portion begins with a sudden turnaround from the previous week’s portion. Joseph’s predicament had seemed totally hopeless. After spending nine years in prison as a result of Potiphar’s wife’s spurious charges against him, he attempted to gain the assistance of Pharaoh’s butler, who owed him a favor. It seemed, however, that the butler had forgotten him for two years.

Yet, G-d’s salvation comes in the blink of an eye. Pharaoh dreamed two disturbing dreams that could not be interpreted satisfactorily by his advisors. The butler suddenly remembered how Joseph had successfully interpreted his own dream in prison, and mentioned this to Pharaoh. Joseph was hurried out of prison, cleaned up, and brought before Pharaoh. Joseph first clarified that he did not have the ability to interpret dreams; rather G-d sometimes shared the interpretation with him. He then proceeded to explain Pharaoh’s dream to mean that G-d was going to send seven years of bounty to Egypt, followed by seven years of terrible famine. Joseph suggested that Pharaoh appoint somebody to prepare for the years of famine.

Pharaoh was impressed with Joseph’s wisdom and integrity. He decided right then and there to appoint Joseph as the viceroy of all Egypt. It would be his responsibility to prepare the nation for the years of famine. Thus, in a matter of minutes, Joseph was raised from being a lowly prisoner to being a ruler over the whole land.

Once the famine began, Joseph took charge of the food and sold it to the Egyptian citizens. When the famine reached Canaan too, Jacob sent ten of his sons to Egypt to purchase food. Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him. Joseph decided not to reveal himself to his family, though, until he could be sure that his brothers truly regretted the way they had treated him.

Joseph created a situation where he accused his brothers of being spies and thieves, in order to test them to see if they were remorseful for their earlier actions. He had his brothers return home to bring Benjamin, his youngest brother, back with them. The brothers had a difficult time convincing Jacob to let Benjamin go with them. When they finally brought him before Joseph, he had Benjamin accused of stealing his silver goblet. Joseph ordered the brothers to leave Benjamin behind as a slave, in order to see if they would defend him, in contrast to the way they had treated him.

“These candles that we kindle, for the miracles and the salvation…” (Chanukah liturgy)

A disciple asked his Rebbe how one candle could dispel so much darkness.

The Rebbe told him to take a broom and sweep it away. The disciple tried, but to no avail, and he returned to the Rebbe. The Rebbe told him to take a stick and beat the darkness. Again the disciple tried, but could not succeed. Finally the Rebbe explained that the only way to dispel darkness is by igniting a light.

In the Chanukah story, the Maccabees fought valiantly to prevent the Greeks from spreading their influence upon the Jews and the Temple. But it is the miracle of a single flask of oil lasting eight days that marks the holiday observance. Even after the fighting, it is only light that can dispel the darkness. The eternal Chanukah message is that it is our Torah study and good deeds which will illuminate the world and dispel the darkness.

Did You Know...

Rosh Chodesh (beginning of the new month) Teves always falls during Chanukah, commemorating the Greek decree to abolish Rosh Chodesh. When Rosh Chodesh falls on Shabbos, the weekly portion is divided into six aliyos instead of seven, and the seventh aliyah is read from the Rosh Chodesh section. Maftir is read from the Chanukah section.

The reason the Rosh Chodesh reading precedes that of the Chanukah reading is in line with the principle that the more common mitzvah is always performed first. Similarly, if Rosh Chodesh falls during the week, the first three aliyos are from the Rosh Chodesh section and the fourth is from the Chanukah section.