B"H
Friday, Tevet 3, 5784 / December 15, 2023
Happy 8th day of Chanukah. The Torah portions which we read each year, before, during and after Chanukah are Parshat Vayeishev, Parshat Mikeitz and Parshat Vayigash. This Shabbat we read Parshat Mikeitz. They all tell the story of Joseph.
In Parshat Vayeishev, the Torah tells us how Joseph invoked the jealousy of his brothers by publicly announcing his dreams, and by the special treatment with which their father, Yaakov, treated him. As a result, the brothers were jealous of Joseph and sold him into slavery. Joseph ends up in Egypt, first as a slave and then in prison, where he endured many hardships.
In this week’s Parsha, Mikeitz, Joseph correctly and wisely interpreted Pharaoh's dreams and was made viceroy of Egypt. The Torah tells how his brothers came to Egypt to buy food during the great famine. He recognized them but they didn’t recognize him. He gives them food but tells them that next time they must bring their younger brother with them.
In this next week’s Parsha, Vayigash, after being separated from his family for twenty-two years, Joseph finally reveals his identity to his brothers and exclaims, “I am Joseph!” The long-lost brother and son is finally found! He is the ruler of the Land of Egypt.
The story of Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers is a very sad tale and caused Yaakov to mourn for his beloved son for 22 years. Yet, in the end it turned out to be a life saver for Yaakov’s family and for all the people of that region during the years of famine.
This story is everyone’s story. Throughout life, we experience events which we feel, "should have been different or could have been different." The story of Joseph teaches us, as Joseph told his brothers, "It was not you who sent me here, but G-d!"
We must believe and understand that our vision of things is very limited at best. Only G-d knows what is truly good for us and acts in our interests.
In Psalms, King David states, "From G-d are man's footsteps established." Although it may seem that we decide where we go, King David tells us that G-d is really the One who guides our footsteps.
The story is told of a governor who met a rabbi walking in the street, "Where are you going?" he asked the rabbi. "I don't know," the rabbi replied. The governor became angry at the rabbi's answer and had him arrested and thrown into jail. A day later, the governor had the rabbi brought before him; "How come, when I asked you yesterday where you were going, you didn't tell me?"
"Had you asked me where I hoped to go, I would have told you," said the rabbi. "But you asked me for a definite answer and only G-d knows that! You see for yourself that I ended up in jail --and that is not at all where I had intended to go!"
HAPPY CHANUKAH - MAY WE SEE GREAT MIRACLES IN ISRAEL - SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 3:53 / Shabbat ends: 5:02