Spirituality TORAH PORTION Just One Person Can Impact Destiny First Day of Chanukah, Parshat Vayeshev: Genesis 37:1-40:23, Numbers 7:1-171 Zechariah 2:14-4:7. 0 FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1971 HARDWOOD REFINISHING LAMINATE MARBLE/GRANITE VINYL 3021 ORCHARD LAKE ROAD KEEGO HARBOR, MICHIGAN 48320 248.681.6460 WWW.HARBORFLOORS.COM HOURS: M-F 8 AM - 6 PM, SAT. 9 AM - 5 PM OR CALL TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT 62 December 10 • 2009 CARPET CERAMIC CORK AREA RUGS COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL ne of my favorite people in always so carefully handled and stored the whole Torah is found in in hermetically sealed flasks, was Vayeshev, the parshah for strewn about the grounds. Most of the this Shabbat. In Vayeshev, we will read people had given up looking for oil and the story of Joseph and his broth- had resigned themselves to waiting the ers. We'll read of Joseph's dreams, his eight days it would take to make new oil. brothers' jealousy toward One guy, however, would him, his misadventures in not give up the search. Egypt with Potifar's wife While the others wandered and his time in prison with about woefully, he perse- the butcher and the baker. vered, eventually calling out There are many memo- excitedly, "I found it!" rable characters in this par- Although his fellows were shah, yet the one I like the initially hopeful, when they best is typically forgotten. saw the size of the tiny cruse He appears early on in the of oil, their faces fell. What Torah portion and is never was the point, they figured, Rabbi Rachel given a name. in kindling such a small Sh ere When Joseph, on his amount? It couldn't possibly Specia I to the father's command, heads last the eight necessary days Jewis h News out to find his brothers, he until new oil could be made. encounters a stranger in a But our guy would not give field. This nameless man, or ish, as he up. He argued, "This is what we have is called in Hebrew, asks Joseph, "Mah and let's do the best we can with it:' t'vakesh?What are you looking for?" His message — that what we And Joseph answers, "I am looking for already have, even when it doesn't my brothers." This man, whose rela- seem like enough, might actu- tionship to Joseph and his brothers is ally be enough — is, in my opinion, never explained, tells Joseph that his Chanukah's most salient message. brothers went to a place called Dotan. Like the anonymous ish in this This anonymous ish is the sole reason week's Torah portion, we likewise find Joseph is able to locate his brothers. in the Chanukah story an unnamed, When Joseph finds his brothers, they uncelebrated character that changes throw him in a pit and the rest, as they the course of Jewish history. Everyday, say, is history. anonymous men and women make Yes, this most forgettable ish in the courageous and compassionate choic- book of Genesis is the catalyst for our es that, although perhaps not in their people's ultimate redemption in the own time, eventually and ultimately book of Exodus. This man could never change the world. [1 have known what an important role he would play in Jewish history. From Rachel Shere is a rabbi at Adat Shalom his perspective, he was merely giving Synagogue in Farmington Hills. directions to a fellow traveler. It is no coincidence that we read about this anonymous ish during the festival of Conversations Chanukah. Can you think of a time that Almost 2,200 years ago, after the someone, whose name you don't famed Maccabees won the war and even remember, made a signifi- were allowed to enter the beloved cant impact on your life? Do you Temple in Jerusalem, they found may- think it is always immediately hem. Remains of pig sacrifices, cult possible to see the effects of the prostitution and pagan worship were mitzvot that we do? What mitz- everywhere. vot might you do that only show The pure oil of the Temple Menorah, their results after your lifetime?