The roots of all Jewish history can be traced to the story of our forefathers and their families. In the story of Joseph and his brothers the roots of the Egyptian exile and the ultimate Redemption can be seen.
Jacob favored his son Joseph more than his other sons. He taught him individually and made him a special colorful garment. This incurred the jealousy of his brothers. It was compounded further when Joseph related his prophetic dreams about his leadership to his brothers. Although the Talmud finds fault with Jacob’s treatment of Joseph, his intentions were to prepare Joseph for the challenges he would have to endure before assuming leadership.
The brothers eventually conspired to kill Joseph. They first threw him into a pit, but then decided to sell him instead as a slave. They took Joseph’s coat, dipped it in blood, and sent it to their father, implying that he had been attacked by an animal. Jacob could not be consoled. The brothers obviously acted improperly, however, their actions were also part of an orchestrated masterplan from G-d to set the stage in Egypt for the family’s eventual exile.
Yehuda, the born leader of the brothers, and the one most affected by Joseph’s dreams, started his own family. His first son, Er, died, and Yehuda had the widow, Tamar, marry his second son, Onan. Onan also died and Yehuda sent Tamar to her father’s home. However, Tamar desired to have children through Yehuda’s family, and in a strange turn of events she fooled Yehuda into living with her. Yehuda did not even realize that he had made her pregnant. When confronted with the realization of what he had done, Yehuda publicly admitted to his actions, accepting full responsibility. Tamar bore to Yehuda twin boys, Zerach and Peretz, who would be the forbearer of the Davidic and Messianic, dynasty.
Meanwhile, Joseph was taken to Egypt where he was a servant in the house of one of Pharaoh’s officers, Potiphar. Joseph was very handsome, and Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph, but he would not consent, despite all her efforts. As a result, she slandered Joseph and he was sent to prison, where he remained for eleven years.
Jacob’s efforts in preparing Joseph paid off, though. Regardless of all the difficult circumstances he found himself in, Joseph maintained a positive disposition. This virtue would be of great importance when Joseph would later assume a leadership role.
...He commanded us to kindle the lights of Chanukah (Chanukah blessing)
A man approached Rav Yitzchak Zilberstein with a question. He owned a beautiful silver menorah he would light each year for Chanukah. This year, however, his son had won a new menorah at school for his diligence in Torah study. The menorah was obviously not as nice as the one at home, but the son would really appreciate if his father would light the prize menorah. The father inquired if it would be preferable to use the nicer menorah, or the prize menorah.
Rav Zilberstein answered that the menorah is meant to publicize the miracle of the Maccabees’ victory over the Greeks, who wanted to abolish the Torah. What greater victory is there than to publicize a young boy’s diligence in Torah more than 2000 years after the Greeks tried to destroy that same Torah? The father should definitely light the prize menorah.
Did You Know...
One should first light the shamash, the candle used to kindle the other candles, recite all the blessings and then begin kindling the Chanukah candles. If one of the wicks does not catch, or if the flame was extinguished right after lighting, it should be fixed or replaced, but no new blessing is required. There are different customs regarding the singing of Haneiros halalu and the other Chanukah hymns. Some sing them immediately after the first candle has been lit, while kindling the other candles, while others begin singing after all the candles have been lit.
