Parashat Miketz/Chanukah

“American History: Warts and All” should have been the title of my high school history course. Highlighted were massacres of Native Americans, the expulsion of Jews, Catholics, Quakers, and others from the Puritan community, the horrors of slavery and Jim Crow, etc., etc. — yet, my classmates and I learned how important it was to elect legislators that serve the common good. Woven through those two years was the concept of leadership: What makes a good leader? My teacher asked the eternal question: Do the times make the (wo)man or does the (wo)man make the times? Parashat Miketz and the Chanukah story answer that question. Parashat Miketz recounts part of the Joseph story and begins with Pharaoh’s dream about the seven thin cows that devour the seven fat cows by the banks of the Nile. His second dream concerns seven healthy ears of grain and then seven scorched ears of grain that destroy the healthy grain. None of the wise men of Egypt are able to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams. Pharaoh’s chief cupbearer remembers the Hebrew youth with whom he was imprisoned and reveals to Pharaoh that Joseph would be able to interpret the ruler’s dreams.

Joseph explains to Pharaoh that there will be seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine; Pharaoh must appoint a man to organize Egypt to store enough grain to withstand the years of hunger. Not surprisingly, Pharaoh not only selects Joseph to be that man, he also makes Joseph the second most powerful man in Egypt. The years of abundance arise, followed by years of famine, just as Joseph has predicted. The famine extends to Canaan, and the second half of Miketz begins the story of Joseph’s ultimate reunion with his errant brothers, though not in this parashah.

It is Joseph’s leadership that brings his brothers to Egypt in search of grain. It is Joseph’s leadership that will ultimately bring his brothers and their families back to Egypt. And it is God’s preordained leadership plan for Joseph that hundreds of years later will commence the enslavement of the Jews because “a Pharaoh arose who did not know Joseph.” And of course, another leader arises, Moses, to guide the Jews out of Egypt, though many years will pass between Joseph and Judah Maccabee.

Fast forward about 2,000 years. Antiochus IV wants to destroy the Jews and all aspects of Jewish faith and culture. A group of insurgents under Judah Maccabee and his brothers rebel against Antiochus and defeat the Greeks who have defiled the Temple. Judah and his “army” set about cleansing the sullied Temple and consecrating it to God. We know the story — not enough oil was left to light the menorah, but “wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles,” God multiplies the oil so there is enough for eight days. Just as a brit milah brings male children into the covenant on the eighth day of life, this miracle becomes a type of brit, renewing the covenant of a new Jewish world without the Hellenistic influences that have sought to eradicate it. Those times demanded leaders like the Maccabees.

Though Judah and his band of brothers are successful, the Maccabees create a monarchy in Judea for which they are punished. The kings of Israel are to arise out of the House of David, and even though the Maccabees are righteous, God strikes them down, knowing that the Maccabees believe that those of the House of David are less religious than they. God understands how necessary were the leaders of the rebellion, but once the Maccabees trespass on God’s power, they are diminished, leaving no heirs.

Joseph and Judah become leaders because the times in which they live demands that of them. They are examples of men who step into roles to save other people. As we kindle our chanukiot, let us bathe in the glow that illuminates our history.

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Chanukah Sameach