VOLUME 118 NUMBER 9
Kislev 22, 5786
December 12, 2025
Parshas Vayeishev/Special Chanukah Edition
Candlelighting Time 4:17
Chanukah is right around the corner and perhaps we need to somewhat meditate and consider what Chanukah is all about, how we should approach this wonderful Yom Tov and explore what it is that we anticipate to gain. As we know after the small Hasmonean army defeated the powerful Greeks, they began to search for oil to light the Menorah. The enemy had defiled all the oil available and it appeared as though they would have to rely on using oil in a defacto manner. In other words, even though it is preferable to use only oil which is pure they would have to settle for second best. Certainly, a letdown after they had sacrificed so much to defeat those that wanted to destroy our religious practices and introduce pagan routines into our society. Finally, they did locate a flask of oil embossed with the stamp of the High Priest. We must also appreciate that there are accepted opinions that when the nation is defiled or in this case the oil for the people is defiled it is actually fully permissible to use tainted oil. So, the question still begs why did Hashem finally reveal this hidden flask. Why didn’t they notice it right away?
The commentators explain a very important part of our relationship with Hashem which perhaps we don’t think about and with proper attention can be a very significant part of our relationship with Hashem. The revelation of the flask of oil was to display Hashem’s ‘endearing’ feeling for us. The Greeks were destroying the very fiber of our religion. They outlawed performance of circumcision, celebrating the beginning of the New Month and of course study of Torah. Circumcision is the basic expression of our covenant with Hashem which dates back to the early underpinnings of our connection with Hashem. Avrohom was tasked with performing this mitzvah even at his advanced age of 100 yet he followed Hashem’s lead. Rosh Chodesh, the beginning of the New Month when the moon is just starting to expand its crescent. We celebrate the lunar year, not the solar year. Certainly, a point to pause and consider. As the moon ‘broadens’ and amplifies impacting us to think that we need to also renew and enhance our approach to how we serve Hashem. And definitely the study of Torah, the lifeblood of our nation since we received the Torah on Mt. Sinai thousands of years ago. Without Torah, we would wither and disappear, which was definitely the intent of the Greeks who banned its study.
Matisyahu, the son of the High Priest Yochanan, as he viewed this desperate situation realized that unless we combatted the enemy they were primed to eliminate our religion at its very root. They took up arms and prayed fervently that their efforts would be successful and Hashem answered their prayers as they successfully warded off the threat and reestablished the Beis Hamikdash. Although this very momentous Yom Tov does not forbid work as on Shabbos and the Holidays, however, we are obligated to say Hallel, a thanksgiving prayer in which we recognize the solidarity that Hashem displayed during this time for our forebears who exemplified incredible strength of character and passion for the continuance of our religion. That is the endearment that the commentators mention which was clearly shown at this time of the year. Perhaps we need to also reassess and figure out ways in which we can exhibit special attention to performance of mitzvos and study of Torah. Although we need not exempt ourselves from the Chanukah parties replete with their menus of latkes and cheese blintzes and of course the dreidel, still the deep penetrating lesson of this special Yom Tov should be emblazed upon our minds and demonstrated in practice.
A BYTE FOR SHABBOS
Even though Yosef’s dreams depicted him as a ruler over his brothers, the Torah carefully describes Yosef’s humility as a shepherd to avoid that his telling of the dreams was an act of arrogance rather it was foretelling the future of the family and the nation. RAV MOSHE FEINSTEIN
GOOD SHABB0S AND HAPPY CHANUKAH
