Midreshet Amit

• LIVE TORAH:
• Academic Program
• Yimei Iyun
• FAQ
• Recent Shiurim
• View by Parsha
• View By Chag
• Search Database
• Ask the Rav

As people who believe in the integration of Torah and Secular pursuits, Chanukah strikes us as a very difficult holiday. On the one hand, we all feel the strong need to give Hallel and Hoda'a- praise and thanks- to God for both the military victory and the miracle of the cruse of oil- nes pakh hashemen- both of which reflected the triumph of quality over quantity. On the other hand, we are faced with the complex task of reflecting on a holiday which celebrates the rejection of the surrounding culture. As members of western society, we struggle with a holiday that commemorates the repudiation of the glory that was Greece. How do we rejoice in our ancestors' battle against the wisdom of Plato and Aristotle, the poetry Homer, and the drama of Aeschylus?

Thankfully, it is the story of Yosef in Parshas Miketz, which is read every year on Shabbos Chanukah, which may help resolve our dilemma. In Egypt, Yosef found himself surrounded by a very attractive and inviting culture. In response to his environment, Yosef consciously enters that society by taking an Egyptian name- Tsafnat Paneach, marrying into Egyptian nobility, and accepting the office of viceroy of the nation. In addition, not only does Yosef willingly enter Egyptian culture, but he saves his adopted nation by leading it through one of its greatest crises, namely seven consecutive years of intense famine.

Nevertheless, throughout his travails in the land of Egypt, Yosef proudly proclaims and glorifies the name of God. In last week's Sedra, Parshat VaYeshev, Rashi notes that Yosef's constant mentioning of God's name led to his master recognition of God's divine providence- and his master saw that Hashem was with him and whatever he did, Hashem succeeded through his hand. Moreover, while interpretting Pharoah's dreams, Yosef credits God, no less than 5 times such as telling Pharoah that, "Not I, but God will respond to the peace of Pharoah," and that "What God is to do, He has revealed to Pharoah."

Even before the people of Egypt, the nation which worshipped the Nile and the Sun, Yosef is unabashed and undeterred in his goal of spreading the glory of God. In fact, Yosef's steadfast determination to credit God with endowing him with his abilities to interpret dreams, and his constant repetition of God's name influence even Pharoah, the King of Egypt, to declare that "After God has informed you [Joseph] of all this, there is no one so understanding and wise as you."

In addition, after entering Egyptian society as a prince of Egypt, Yosef names his youngest child Ephraim to signify that "God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering." In the naming of his child, Yosef reveals that notwithstanding his dizzying success, he is not completely at home. Despite being its viceroy, Yosef continues to acknowledge his Jewishness as he recognizes that Egypt remains the land of his suffering.

Yosef teaches us that, as Jews, we have a complex role in the society in which we live. As we do all we can to contribute and learn from the cultures into which exile has thrust us, we must never lose sight of our deep religious, cultural and national character as Jews. It was precisely this loss of Jewish identity that the Maccabees fought against. In reality, Greek culture per se was not the enemy, but the inability of the Jews at that time to maintain their unique Jewish values and practices, while learning from the surrounding Greek culture. In essence, the failure to emulate the model of Yosef needed to be rectified.

It is in this way that, like the two dreams of Pharoah, the message of Parshat Miketz and the story of Chanukah merge and integrate into one. It is not the complete rejection of Greek culture which we celebrate on Chanukah, but rather the rejection of Greek culture as a replacement of our Jewish identity. As we strive to become full fledged members in western society and culture, we must never forget that our unique Jewish value, beliefs, and customs are worth fighting for. May we continue to celebrate many more Chanukot by following in the model of Yosef by contributing to the world around us, while still maintaining our steadfast commitment to Torah, mitsvot, and the glorification of God's name.