[Parsha Perspectives] Parshas Mikeitz: An Appeal for our Future

[Rabbi Leib Irons]

“The chief wine steward spoke to Pharaoh.’ I must recall my crimes today,' he said. 'Pharaoh was angry at us, and he placed me under arrest in the house of the captain of the guard, along with the chief baker. We dreamed one night - he and I each had a dream that seemed to have its own special meaning. There was a young Hebrew man with us, a slave of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them. He provided each of us with an interpretation, and things worked out just as he said they would. I was given back my position, while [the baker] was hanged.' Pharaoh sent messengers and had Joseph summoned. They rushed him from the dungeon. He got a haircut and changed clothes, and then came to Pharaoh.” –Genesis 41:9-14

The kabalistic work Zohar maintains that the sale of Joseph to Egypt and his subsequent rise to the position of viceroy was part of the Divine plan of sending the Jews into exile. This was the means to that end. Joseph would have been redeemed from jail regardless, it so happens to be that the chief wine steward merited being the messenger for the Divine plan. Had he not spoken, somehow Joseph would have achieved freedom through another means.

In the Purim story as well, Mordechai tells Esther that she is given an opportunity to forever be inscribed in the hollowed annals of Jewish history. However if she refused, salvation would inevitable arrive from another source, and her destiny would be lost forever.

We are currently in the midst of the Chanukah celebration. We are celebrating the victory of the Torah lifestyle over that of the Greek lifestyle. The Jews were not in physical danger; this was purely a war against the spiritual soul of the Jews. The Jewish establishment in Israel had primarily assimilated. There were just a small amount of faithful Jews remaining. Matisyahu the High Priest analyzed the situation. G-d promises the Jewish people that they will persevere no matter what befalls them. Matisyahu realized that his moment has arrived. If he decides to stand up for the future of the Jewish people he will partake in its future, but if G-d forbid he stands on the sidelines, who knows what will happen to his own family. He decided to fight back against this war on the Torah and mitzvos, and he succeeded. Our celebration is about a small group of people who saw the challenge that lay ahead, but nonetheless decided to do their part. G-d welcomed their efforts and decided to make them His messengers for the preservation of our faith.

We are at a crossroad today. The Jewish world has by and large assimilated. Intermarriage is rampant. The story of Chanukah is more applicable than ever. Today there is no more Matisyahu, there is just you and me. Each one of us can spread the light. We can each become like the Maccabees. Practically speaking here are just a couple of ideas to help us join the ranks of the chief wine steward, Esther, and Matisyahu:

1) Inform friends and co-workers about learning opportunities such as Partners in Torah.1-800-Study-4-2
2) Invite friends over for a Shabbos meal.
3) Offer to help with procuring mezuzahs etc.
4) Invite friends over for Chanukah lighting and latkas, and explain how this isn't the Jewish response to X-mas.
5) Host a kosher cooking event
6) Create a lunch and learn in your office
7) Begin your workday by studying the daily laws of gossip with co-workers or friends
8) Study more Torah
9) Create achievable goals for your own advancement in Torah study
10) Email a weekly Torah thought to friends

Hopefully through this group effort we will all merit to witness our generations personal Chanukah miracle!

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Posted By Rabbi Leib Irons to Parsha Perspectives at 12/11/2008 04:07:00 PM