Parshat Miketz; Genesis 41:1-44:17 by Rabbi Denise L. Eger
This portion is always read during Chanukah. Is this a mere calendarical coincidence? Or is there a deeper connection between the events of Parshat Miketz and Chanukah.
On first reading the stories contained in the portion continues the stories of Joseph in Egypt. While the story of Chanukah, which happened significantly later in Jewish history, is the story of the Maccabees fight against the Syrian-Greeks to worship as Jews. This portion details the rise of Joseph to the position of power in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. After interpreting Pharaohs’ disturbing dreams, Joseph concludes that Egypt is in for a cycle of bounty and famine. He suggests boldly to the Pharaoh a plan to prepare the country so that none will starve. And he does so humbly asserting that God is the one who sent Pharaoh the message. Pharaoh is impressed, even awed by Joseph’s ability and insight and hands him his ring and raises him from lowly prisoner to a person in command of his court and country. This is the story of an outsider who becomes and insider in a foreign land all the while preserving his own religious and historical ties to his people.
The story of the Maccabees is a very different story. It is the story of Jews who in their own land are oppressed and kept from preserving their own religious and historical ties to Jewish tradition. King Antiochus has defiled the Temple, setting idols up in the house of God’s Divine Presence in Jerusalem. He has forbid the priests from offering the proper sacrifices and created and environment of terror, killing innocents across a large swath of Israel. Mattathias and his sons led by Judah, revolt against the terror of King Antiochus and his army and lead a 3 year battle against the world’s great army. They are successful in their endeavors and rededicate the Temple on the 25th of Kislev—3 years to the day that the war began! They lovingly clean and restore the Temple removing the offending pagan idols and rekindle the sacred menorah as part of their celebration. Their faith and commitment keeps them strong even in the face of such great evil and terror as inflicted by King Antiochus.
Joseph and his later relations the Maccabees do have this in common: their faith in God. For both Joseph and the Maccabees they understand that God plays a role in their lives and in the world. They celebrate that role and do everything in their power to highlight God’s hand. Joseph is clear in his explanation of the Pharaoh’s dreams that it is God who is sending a message to Pharaoh. Isn’t this dangerous since the Pharaoh is a god in the Egyptian pantheon? A for the Maccabees their willingness to fight to restore the dwelling place of the Divine and their willingness to defend their faith in the face of such great evil brings God’s hand to bear in their day. Both Joseph and the Maccabees know full well that the words of the prophet Zechariah (whose haftarah is read on Chanukah) “That not by might, not by power but by My Spirit alone.” Each in their own way—Joseph in his way and in his era and the Maccabees in their way in their era our witness that God’s power, spirit, strength, and blessing is at work in the world and their faith should be an inspiration to all of us.
So while the Joseph story doesn’t seemingly have anything to do with the story of Chanukah and the Maccabees. It in fact connects to the message of Chanukah in a very deep way, teaching us that God’s divine presence speaks to us, and works through us to bring about miracles. Just as God brought the miracle of a rescue of the prisoner Joseph to become prime minister of Egypt, and just as God brought the miracle of defeating the greatest army of its day and the reclamation of the Temple—it is still possible that God will do miracles for us in our day and time. Ken Yehi Ratzon- so may it be God’s Will.
Posted by Lee at December 27, 2005 09:14 AM
