A Feilichen Lichtige Channukah!
Tal Moshe Zwecker
Kedushas Levi on Parshas VaYigash
The Parallels Between Chanukah and Purim;
Binyamin and
Mordechai, Shimon & Levi and the Chashmonaim
"LeKulam Nasan LeIsh etc, LeBinyamin etc., veChamesh Chalifos Smalos – And to each he gave etc. and to Binyamin etc. he gave five suits of clothing." (45:22)
Our sages said in Megillah 16a "Is it possible that something which this Tzadik troubled himself over, his own progeny would stumble on? Rather this hints at Binyamin from whom Mordechai is descended who went out before Achashverosh with five garments as it says in Esther 8:15 'And Mordechai went out etc.'"
With the help of heaven it seems that we can add dimension to the words of our sages who with their spirit of Divine intuition called Ruach Hakodesh alluded to Yosef's hinting to Binyamin the future miracle of Mordechai. Yosef and Binyamin shared the same mother, and we see that a similar fate will befell them both. Just as Yosef rose to power through the dream which he interpreted for Pharaoh, so too Mordechai who is descended from Binyamin rose to power through a dream (dreamed by Achashverosh) as our sages taught in the Targum (Esther 6:1) and the Midrash (Esther Rabba 10:1) that on that night the king's sleep was disturbed, since he dreamed that Haman wished to murder him, therefore he was filled with anger and wrath towards him, and he commanded [Haman] to dress Mordechai and lead him through the streets of the city.
And similarly just as Yosef was still beneath the rule of Pharaoh as Rashi explained on the previous verse 41:40, "Only the throne will I uplift above you," so too Mordechai who was descended by Binyamin, even though he rose to power, he remained beneath the rule of Achashverosh as our sages said in Megillah 14a "We are still the servants of Achashverosh." This is the meaning of our sages that Yosef hinted to Binyamin by giving him five suits of clothing, that Mordechai would descend from him and be similarly equal to him.
Now it seems to me that all the actions of the pure and holy tribes of Israel are a good and favorable sign for their progeny (See the Midrash Tanchuma Lech Lecha 9; Ramban's commentary to verse 12:6). Yosef was hinting to the redemption of Mordechai and Israel from the wicked Haman. Similarly Shimon and Levi by killing Shechem alluded to the redemption of Chanukah from the wicked nation [of the Greeks]. These are extremely similar, in that regarding Shechem the victory was somewhat due to the war waged by Shimon and Levi, and Hashem's salvation aided them, so too regarding Chanukah the victory was achieved through the war waged by Chashmonai and his son's and Hashem aided them to "hand over the strong and courageous in the hands of the weaker ones etc." (See Al HaNissim text for Chanukah in the Blessing of Modim in the Amidah). This was not the case by Purim where there was no aid from the forces down here below. Therefore Chanukah which was achieved through Shimon and Levi's victory in Shechem, since they caused the victory for their progeny which would be similar to their victory, so too the miracle of Chanukah was wrought by the hands of Chashmonai and his sons who were Kohannim from the tribe of Levi. So too in Shechem Levi was one of the warriors similarly during the battle of Chanukah one of Matisyahu's sons was also named Shimon as is mentioned in the book of Josephus (Chap 26) and they achieved victory and conquered through war through Shimon just as they had in Shechem.
Now Hashem will enlighten our eyes in His Torah, this is what Ya'akov said (49:5-7) "Shimon and Levi etc. through their will they uprooted the Ox." This hints to the action they took in Shechem to uproot the Shor or Ox as our sages said (Yerushalmi Chagigah Chap 2 Halacha 2) that 'the Greeks wanted us to write on the horn of an ox that we have no portion in The G-d of Israel,' they uprooted this, that we should not have to write such a thing on the horn of the ox, this is the meaning behind "they uprooted the ox," since they achieved this for Chashmonai and his son's to emerge victorious over the Greeks. And he said "may my honor not be united in their congregation" as the Ramban wrote (49:10) "that which Chashmonai and his sons avenged themselves [on the Greeks], they did well and proper, however that which they then took the throne for themselves was improper, since kingship and sovereignty was given to the tribe of Yehudah alone." 'Honor' refers to the kingship, since honor and might are proper for the king. This is also the meaning behind "may my honor not be united in their congregation" that my honor not be attached to theirs since the Chashmonaim took the throne which is called Honor through the imprint left by Shimon and Levi's battle in Shechem as we explained above, since I am not pleased that they should take the throne, rather it belongs only to Yehudah. See Rashi's commentary to the verse 49:6, he explained that "May my soul not dwell in their secret," regarding the actions in Shechem.
Stories & Parables
A Chanukah Gift for Shlach Manos on Purim
The holy Rav of Berditichev was once visiting the Koznitzer Maggid on Purim. When the Maggid wished to send the customary gift of Mishlaoch Manos to the Berditichiver he delivered it using his son-in-law the Rav of Grenitz as the shaliach, saying "the custom is that we pay the emissary a fee known as schar shlichus perhaps the Berditichiver will bless you with a son as your reward," since the Rav of Grenitz did not yet have any children.
The Rav of Grenitz indeed fulfilled his duty and delivered the Mishlaoch Manos to the Berditichiver who upon receiving the gift began to run to and fro across the room in ecstasy unable to contain his excitement! When the Berditichiver calmed down he noticed that the Rav of Grenitz was still waiting in the room. He walked over to him and said "Surely you wish to receive your fee of schar shlichus ? I promise you to pay when I take my leave of your father-in-law the Maggid."
After some time the Berditchiver came to take his leave of the Koznitzer Maggid. The Rav of Grenitz was present and the Berditchiver made a request of the Maggid, "Please allow to me ask of you a parting gift, one of your silver vessels." The Maggid answered the Berditchiver "Please pick of any of the silver vessels, and take it for your own." The Berditchiver pointed to an exquisite and beautiful silver Channukah menorah, that the Maggid greatly chreished and had required considerable means to acquire. Nonetheless the Maggid readily agreed and the Berditchiver picked up the newly acquired menorah as his own. He then handed it over to the Rav of Grenitz saying, "You will have a son, until he reaches the age of Bar-Miztvah the Maggid will light this menorah, and when he reaches age thirteen you will pass it on to your son to light and it shall be his." And so it was, the Rav of Grenitz had a son who one day grew up to be the holy Rav Chaim Meir Yechiel who would be known as the fiery angel or Seraph of Mogalinitza may his holy merit shield us.
R' Tal Moshe Zwecker
Director Machon Be'er Mayim Chaim
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