Hanukkah ends today. For eight nights we made light, with candles, or oil, or even with an electric Hanukkiah. We are commanded to place our Hanukkiot in the window to “publicize the miracle.”
What miracle are we broadcasting? The traditional answer is the miracle of faith, that the Maccabees had the faith to rededicate the Temple even if there was not enough oil to keep the Ner Tamid, the eternal light over the altar, burning. Yet, they lit the flame and it did not go out.
This week’s Torah portion suggests another miracle, vision, or hazon, in Hebrew. Pharaoh has an upsetting dream, of seven lean cows devouring seven fat cows and none of his court seers or magicians can provide an interpretation that rings true. So he calls for Joseph, a young Hebrew, whose life has been a series of disasters that have taken him from being his father’s pampered favorite child to a prisoner in Pharaoh’s dungeon. Joseph understands Pharaoh’s dream, that seven years of famine will follow seven years of plenty. He also provides Pharaoh with a plan to store grain from the good years to help Egypt survive the lean ones.
But, Joseph does not claim the vision (hazon) or the wisdom (hochmah) is his; rather, he says, “Not I! God will see to Pharaoh’s welfare.” (Genesis 41:16)
This is a statement of profound faith and humility. Joseph has acquired these traits through his years of suffering and struggle. Now, they enable him to understand Pharaoh’s dream and see a way to save Pharaoh’s people.
This week’s Torah portion, like Hanukkah, comes at the darkest time of the year to remind us of the value of these humble but essential human virtues, particularly in a leader. In our own times, when self-promotion, willful ignorance, a lust for power, and a lack of empathy or care in many of our political leaders has led us to the worst public health disaster in a hundred years,
Joseph and the Maccabees are examples of what real leadership, one grounded in faith and humility, can accomplish.
Miketz, Genesis 41:1-44:17, Parshat Ha Shavua for Shabbat, Saturday, December 19, 2020
December 18, 2020 by Dean Kertesz • Drashot
Hanukkah ends today. For eight nights we made light, with candles, or oil, or even with an electric Hanukkiah. We are commanded to place our Hanukkiot in the window to “publicize the miracle.”
What miracle are we broadcasting? The traditional answer is the miracle of faith, that the Maccabees had the faith to rededicate the Temple even if there was not enough oil to keep the Ner Tamid, the eternal light over the altar, burning. Yet, they lit the flame and it did not go out.
This week’s Torah portion suggests another miracle, vision, or hazon, in Hebrew. Pharaoh has an upsetting dream, of seven lean cows devouring seven fat cows and none of his court seers or magicians can provide an interpretation that rings true. So he calls for Joseph, a young Hebrew, whose life has been a series of disasters that have taken him from being his father’s pampered favorite child to a prisoner in Pharaoh’s dungeon. Joseph understands Pharaoh’s dream, that seven years of famine will follow seven years of plenty. He also provides Pharaoh with a plan to store grain from the good years to help Egypt survive the lean ones.
But, Joseph does not claim the vision (hazon) or the wisdom (hochmah) is his; rather, he says, “Not I! God will see to Pharaoh’s welfare.” (Genesis 41:16)
This is a statement of profound faith and humility. Joseph has acquired these traits through his years of suffering and struggle. Now, they enable him to understand Pharaoh’s dream and see a way to save Pharaoh’s people.
This week’s Torah portion, like Hanukkah, comes at the darkest time of the year to remind us of the value of these humble but essential human virtues, particularly in a leader. In our own times, when self-promotion, willful ignorance, a lust for power, and a lack of empathy or care in many of our political leaders has led us to the worst public health disaster in a hundred years,
Joseph and the Maccabees are examples of what real leadership, one grounded in faith and humility, can accomplish.