Become a Hospice Volunteer! Helping Hands, Compassionate Heart Hospice Compassus is searching for new Volunteers! Call Now! Hospice Volunteers may provide some of the following services: Office/Administrative tasks 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 Meal preparation W ❑ Reading to patients/writing letters Light housekeeping/running errands Patient caregiver relief Emotional and spiritual support Assist with grief support groups At the heart of who stands Helping with health fairs/community education we are For more information or to register for training, please stop by our office or contact our Volunteer Coordinator at the numbers listed below. HOSPICE COMPASSUS Serving with Heartfelt Compassion (248) 355-9900 or 1.800-397-9360 30665 Northwestern Hwy. Suite 150 Farmington Hills, MI 48334 hospicecompassus.com 1965950 DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Now until January 1! Call to subscribe: 248.351.5120 Receive 1 year of The Jewish News for '75 2 years at 125 175 3 years at In State Only December 18 • 2014 37