Friday, December 23, 2011

Mikeitz 5772

In this week’s parsha, Paroh asks Yosef (Joseph) to interpret his dreams.  Yosef answers: “[The wisdom to interpret dreams] is not from me. G-d will provide an answer [that will be for] Paroh’s welfare/[that will bring] Paroh peace.

Because this parsha is read during Chanukah, commentators find many hints within the parsha relating to Chanukah.  How do Paroh's dreams and Yosef’s answer in this verse connect to Chanukah?
 
Rav Shimon Schwab explains why Paroh’s “spirit was agitated” when he awoke from his dream.  Paroh dreamed of lean cows and thin sheaves devouring robust cows and thick sheaves, symbolizing – to borrow from the Chanukah liturgy – giborim be-yad chalashim, rabim be-yad me'atim – the strong in the hands of the weak, the many in the hands of the few.

Writes Rav David Silverberg on www.torah.org: “The Egyptian king had all along relied on his country's military might and economic prowess as the source of his nation's security and the stability of his monarchy.  Now he was suddenly shown the prospect of even the mightiest and most secure suffering defeat at the hands of the feeble.  This image shook the foundations of his sense of security, and he understandably responded with horror and an urgent need to discover the true meaning underlying this dream.”  Had King Antiochus had similar dreams before the Maccabee revolt, he, too, might have been shaken by the possibility of the defeat of his large army by a small group of G-d-revering, Jewish farmer-soldiers. 

Rabbi Boruch Leff on www.aish.com notes that Yosef’s response to Paroh’s request echoes the attitude of the Maccabee warriors upon their victory over the Syrian-Greek army. “They could have easily looked at their stunning and unlikely military victory over the Greeks as a reflection of their prowess and brilliant strategy.  But [just as Yosef understood the source of his ability to interpret dreams,] the Maccabees understood the true source of their strength and military successes. They didn't react by establishing an annual victory parade, in which they would display their latest technology in weapons. Rather, they reacted by establishing the holiday of Chanukah. They lit the Menorah which publicized G-d's control over the world (in making the miracle of the oil lasting eight days) and that only He could allow them to defeat the Greeks in battle.”  Today, the Al HaNissim (For the Miracles) Chanukah liturgy reflects the festival’s focus of praise and thanks to G-d.

As parents, it is easy to take credit for our children’s triumphs and successes. After all, we must have done something right for them to have turned out so well and to have achieved so much!  We must never forget that G-d is our partner in parenting.  It is Him we must thank and credit when things go well; likewise, it is to Him we must appeal when it appears that all is not well and we need His miracle to turn things around.  

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