By Raquel Lifshutz, a student at Midreshet Devora
In Parashat Vayeshev we saw a perfect example of the power and importance of an individual's single action. Yosef's flawless interpretation of the dreams of his fellow prisoners, the cupbearer and the baker, acts as the major occurrence that eventually changed Jewish history completely. It led to Yosef's release from jail, his acquiring a high position in the Egyptian hierarchy, the fulfillment of his dreams regarding his brothers bowing down before him, the reunion with his brothers and later on with his father, and the eventual descent of the Jews to Egypt where they were enslaved by Pharaoh and ultimately freed by Moshe.
This Shabbat, Parshat Miketz is unique in that we are celebrating Channukah. The famous miracles of Channukah, including the defeat of the Greeks and the miracle of the oil for the menorah all stem from the strong beliefs of the Maccabees. They seem like heroes to us today, but they are more than that. They believed so much in the power of the Jewish people and the aid of Hashem that they fought a seemingly impossible battle and were ultimately rewarded with divine intervention, miracles. Their actions, their belief, and their conviction did not take place within the Tanach's time frame, yet managed to impact all Jews until today. They lit the menorah and fought relentlessly despite the clear hardships and as a direct result we celebrate Channukah and light candles for eight days.
This Shabbat, Parshat Miketz is unique in that we are celebrating Channukah. The famous miracles of Channukah, including the defeat of the Greeks and the miracle of the oil for the menorah all stem from the strong beliefs of the Maccabees. They seem like heroes to us today, but they are more than that. They believed so much in the power of the Jewish people and the aid of Hashem that they fought a seemingly impossible battle and were ultimately rewarded with divine intervention, miracles. Their actions, their belief, and their conviction did not take place within the Tanach's time frame, yet managed to impact all Jews until today. They lit the menorah and fought relentlessly despite the clear hardships and as a direct result we celebrate Channukah and light candles for eight days.
People have the unbelievable power to impact others. We all have the unpredictable ability to impact several if not all generations to come. Yosef's actions led to the Jews being enslaved in Egypt. The Maccabees bravery resulted in our observing a holiday for eight days. We can undoubtedly learn from our ancestors the power of actions, and the extreme importance in thinking before we act and trying to strive for our actions to impact others as deeply and as positively as possible.
Raquel Lifshutz is currently a student at Midreshet Devora as well as a student in the Jerusalem Culinary Institute. She is originally from Brooklyn, NY and a graduate of the Yeshivah of Flatbush.
Raquel Lifshutz is currently a student at Midreshet Devora as well as a student in the Jerusalem Culinary Institute. She is originally from Brooklyn, NY and a graduate of the Yeshivah of Flatbush.