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Parshat Miketz, Chanukah, Day 4 • •
Genesis 41:1-44:17; Numbers 7:30-41.
Friendly home or care center visits
hat is the most important
before him. Suddenly, all the memories
institution in Judaism?
of his childhood came flooding back.
The synagogue? The beit
Although he was far away from his fam-
midrash, the house of study? The mik-
ily, it was the lessons and values that had
vah? The yeshivah, the day school?
been imparted to him during childhood
While each one of these institutions
which were able to guide him at this
is vital and plays a central role within
most difficult moment.
In a similar fashion, perhaps during
Jewish life, there is one additional loca-
tion that is perhaps even more critical.
the historical events of Chanukah, it
According to the Talmud, every Jewish was the Jewish household that allowed
household is instructed to light a candle
the Jewish people to remain connected
each night of Chanukah. Although cur-
to their faith and to God. Not only was
rent custom in many communities is
the Temple inaccessible and several
that each member of the
religious laws outlawed, but
house lights their own meno-
the Hellenist values of Greek
rah, the basic law teaches,
culture were challenging the
ner ish u'beito, one candle per
timeless lessons and identity
household each night.
of the Jew. Many, unfortu-
On the surface, this
nately, even succumbed and
appears counterintuitive.
abandoned the rich history
After all, the miracle of
and legacy of Jewish tradi-
the oil occurred within the
tion.
Temple, the Beit HaMikdash.
The one bastion of safety
Following the victory over
and comfort, where Jewish
Rabbi Yechiel
their enemies, the Temple
values and observance could
Mo rris
was in shambles. A small
still be taught and practiced,
flask of oil was discovered
was the home. No matter
that should have only allowed the
what was occurring on the outside, the
Temple candelabrum to burn one night.
home remained a shield and safe zone to
Miraculously, however, it lasted eight.
what was being practiced and preached
To commemorate such an astonishing
on the street.
occurrence, one would have thought that
Although the miracle of the oil
the optimal location to light the meno-
occurred in the Beit HaMikdash, it was
rah should have been in the synagogue.
the Jewish home where the religious and
And yet, the Talmud is unequivocal; the
spiritual battle was fought and ultimately
mitzvah of lighting the menorah can
won.
only be fulfilled within the home.
Certainly the synagogue, Jewish day
Although there is a custom to light
schools and yeshivot, camps, youth
a menorah on Chanukah in the syna-
groups and a whole host of other fine
gogue and many in recent years have lit
organizations positively influence Jewish
a Chanukah menorah in public squares
life. At the same time, it all begins, and
and at communal gatherings, nonethe-
certainly must be reinforced, within the
less, these public lightings, while full of
home. If children are taught one message
symbolism, Jewish pride and beauty, do
at synagogue, but don't see that mod-
not fulfill an individual's basic obligation. eled at home, then they are left feeling
A menorah must still be lit within one's
confused and skeptical whether these
home. Why is that so?
messages are something their family
At the beginning of parshat Mikeitz,
cherishes and values.
we find Yosef still languishing in an
The obligation to light the menorah
Egyptian prison, falsely accused of vio-
is specifically within each Jewish home
lating the wife of his Egyptian master.
to remind us that if we want the lessons
But it was Yosef who actually refused the and beauty of Judaism to continue, then
advances.
that positive light must continually be
Our rabbis in the Talmud record a
reinforced and practiced within our
homes and family life.
powerful tradition of what empowered
Yosef to remain strong and not succumb
Yechiel Morris is rabbi of Young Israel of
to temptation. At the critical moment,
Southfield.
an image of his father, Yaakov, appeared
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December 18 • 2014
37