Parshat Miketz: Genesis 41:1-44:17;
1 Kings 3:15-4:1.
A
t its origin, this holiday of
Chanukah is about identity,
formation and our ability to
stand up and affirm that we are proud
to be Jews — even, and especially,
when the secular world does not know
exactly what to do with us.
As we know from the
Chanukah story, our ances-
tors were given a choice:
they could become Greek,
give up their unique tradi-
tions and immediately be
accepted by everyone ... or
they could physically resist
the Hellenistic influences
that attempted to force them
to abandon their religion.
Thankfully for us, there
was a group — small but
mighty — who refused to allow Jewish
life to come to a halt. They defended
their Jewish identity with their very
lives and in so doing, they single-hand-
edly made Chanukah about much more
than lighting candles, spinning dreidels
and giving gifts:
• Chanukah is about daring to be
different, resisting assimilation and
not giving into the pressure of the
greater society;
• Chanukah is about being proud to
stand up for who we are and what we
believe in;
• Chanukah is about authenticity,
sincerity and being brutally honest
about who we are as individuals and
as a people.
It is no accident that our Torah
portion Miketz always coincides with
Chanukah in part because the story's
main character is faced with a very
similar challenge to his own Israelite
identity.
Joseph is far from home, he was
sold into slavery by his brothers
long ago and now he finds himself
in Egypt, in command of Pharaoh's
household. To signify all that Joseph
has accomplished, Pharaoh gives
Joseph the Egyptian name Zaphenath-
paneah, meaning "God lives." And
while the change of Joseph's name
symbolizes a new identity and a fresh
start, it is interesting to note that
the Torah never calls Joseph by this
Egyptian name again.
The truth is that Joseph never gives
up longing for his family and for
one day returning home.
Despite his incredible
success in Egypt, rising
from a lowly slave to the
second-highest position in
the most powerful nation,
Joseph still feels alone and
lost without a people he
can call his own. He is dis-
connected, detached and
largely disengaged.
But how will Joseph ever
recapture his authentic
Jewish identity because he
appears destined to live out the rest
of his days in Egypt? Reclaiming his
Israelite roots seems like a complete
impossibility until his brothers, unbe-
knownst to them, come before Joseph
seeking food to feed their family.
Surprised to see them, Joseph will
hide his tears on five different occa-
sions, a testament to the longing he
feels to be reunited with his family,
his people and his heritage.
And ultimately, Joseph succeeds
in fully reconciling with his brothers
because he never forgot who he was,
and he never gave up his faith in the
God of Israel.
As Joseph shows us in the Torah and
as the holiday of Chanukah reminds
us, being part of a group, a club, a com-
munity and a religion is very powerful
— it is a power that thankfully even
secular success cannot diminish. I I
Joseph H. Krakoff is a rabbi at
Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield.
Conversations
1.What aspects of Judaism
(rituals, beliefs, etc.) make you
the proudest?
2. How do you make Chanukah
special in your family?
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December 22 • 2011
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