Mikeitz - Shabbos Chanukah
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in this week’s parsha (Chapter 41, Pasuk 14), Vayishlach Pharaoh Vaykira es Yosef Va’Yeritzuhu min Ha’Bor. Pharaoh is informed by the Sar Hamashkim about Yosef and his abilities to interpret dreams and he is immediately rushed up from the pit in which he was incarcerated. This moment of Yosef being pulled out from the pit is a turning point for Yosef personally and for Clal Yisrael as well. He is about to be transformed from a prisoner in a dark dungeon to a viceroy second in command to Pharaoh. And after living for years separated from his family, he is about to be reunited and reconciled with his brothers and ultimately be reunited with his elderly father as well.
The Zohar Hakadosh notes the poignancy of this moment by explaining the word Va’Yeritzuhu to mean an appeasement, or Ritzui. Yosef was appeased and filled with Ratzon, desire, in understanding that the darkness of the pit was a necessary prelude to his salvation and unification with his family. This moment was also the beginning of Galus Mitzrayim, the exile in Egypt, as his entire family of seventy souls was about to descend into Mitzrayim. But Yosef understood and appreciated that this was the required step in order for Clal Yisrael to become a nation and stand at Har Sinai and receive the Torah.
This level of understanding and appreciation gained when Yosef was pulled out of the pit is exhibited when Yosef meets his brothers. Firstly, we read (Chapter 42, Pasuk 8) Vayaker Yosef es Eichav V’Heim Lo Hikiruhu. Yosef had the clarity of vision to recognize his brothers, but they didn’t recognize him. The Sfas Emes teaches that the darkness of Galus Mitzrayim did not allow them to recognize their own brother. And in the very next pasuk when Yosef accuses his brothers of being spies Vayomer Aleihem Meraglim Atem, Lir’os es Ervas Ha’Aretz Basem, he was acknowledging that they were about embark on a lengthy stay in the land. And just as Meraglim are necessary to know how to capture a land, they needed to familiarize themselves with the land they were about to be exiled to for generations.
When Yosef is first thrown into a pit in last week’s parsha (Chapter 37, Pasuk 24), we read Vayashlichu Oso HaBorah V’HaBor Reik Ein Bo Mayim. They (the brothers) threw him into a pit, and the pit was empty lacking in water. The Zohar Hakadosh contrasts Yosef being thrown into a pit with Yosef’s leaving the pit in our parsha. But the Zohar adds the pasuk from Mishlei (Chapter 5, Pasuk 15), Sheseih Mayim M’Borecha, V’Nozlim Mitoch Be’erecha. Drink water from your pit, and liquids from your springs. When we fall into a pit, it is a result of following our physical desires and being lacking in Torah. But when there’s Torah in our lives, when we drink the waters from our pit, then we are lifted up from the depths, Va’Yeritzuhu min Ha’Bor. And when we drink the water in the pit, then we ultimately drink the liquids from a Be’er Mayim Chayim, from Torah which flows and flows without stopping.
Rav Tzadok teaches that just as Galus Mitzrayim was a necessary preparation for receiving the Torah at Har Sinai, Torah Shebichtav, Galus Yavan (along with Galus Bavel) was a prelude to Torah She’bealpeh. Galus Yavan is characterized by Chazal as choshech, darkness, and it was the darkness of a pit without water. The philosophy of Greece, devoid of holiness and Gdliness, was the counterpoint, the Zeh L’Umas Zeh, of the holy Torah. And from the darkness of the pit of Galus Yavan came forth the beauty of Torah She’bealpeh; man’s participation in the process of Torah based on the Divinity and the holiness of Torah Shebichtav.
We mentioned last week that we light the lights of Chanukah on the left side. This symbolizes the fact that through the darkness of Galus Yavan came forth the light of Torah She’bealpeh. Just as Yosef was appeased and understood when he was pulled out of the pit, so too we pull ourselves out from the pit of destruction, of desire and temptation and from the false idols of Greek culture, by drinking the waters of Torah. And when we drink the waters placed in the pit, we ultimately drink the ever-flowing spring water of Torah She’bealpeh. We are part of the ongoing chain of tradition of Torah She’bealpeh whose light lightens up even the darkest of the nights. And these lights are the lights of Chanukah.
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