As Chanukah and Shabbos join as one, we must appreciate the unbelievable connections and hints that are found within the Parasha. First and foremost--and probably most outstanding--is the fact that the skinny cows devouring the fat cows are a clear hint to the weak overthrowing the strong, as found in the Chanukah neis!
Perhaps not as well-known is a most beautiful hint shared from the Ropshitzer Rav zt”l, the Zera Kodesh (a sixth generation grandfather to the late rebbetzin of Rav Yehuda Tzvi Kurzrock shlita), who explained beautifully that the five ידות (portions) that Yosef gave to Binyomin (Bereishis 43:34) over his brothers hint to the five ‘ידות’ that we say in the tefilah of Al Hanisim!
גִבוֹרִ יםְּבְּיַדְּחַלָּשִיםְּו רַבִיםְּבְּיַדְּמ עַטִיםְּוּט מֵאִיםְּבְּיַדְְּּט הוֹרִ יםְּ וּר שָּעִיםְּבְּיַדְּצַדִיקִים עוֹס קֵיְּתוֹרָּת ֶֽךָ ו זֵדִיםְּבְְּּיַד
The questions on this, explained Rav Kurzrock, are twofold: First, why did Yosef give Binyomin more than his brothers; would that not cause jealousy? Second, why is it that the language of the davening is actually ב ְּיַד? Should it not be בידי?
To answer the first question first: The five portions that Yosef gave to Binyomin were truly five separate portions, and there are many hidden reasons as to why Yosef did that. But in actuality, the five portions themselves were exactly equal to the one portion that the others received. Yosef certainly did not want, chas veshalom, to instigate any jealousy whatsoever.
Still in all, there was definitely a nisayon to be had with jealousy—and yet, the brothers did not feel that even slightly this time around. In celebration of that great awareness, the Torah tells us (in the pasuk about this special gift to Binyomin) that they sat down to eat and drink, something they did not do since Yosef’s sale. Why now? Because they were now able to view this gift clearly, in the proper light, and not feel any negative feelings at all; that is the greatest reason to celebrate—as they celebrated the great unity they were zocheh to reach.
Amazingly, Rav Kurzrock was mechadesh that we find this exact message being brought out within the hints of this pasuk itself. Why does the tefillah write the word as ב ְּיַד and not בידי which seemingly would be more apropos? The answer is because the word ב ְּיַד denotes one -- the Greeks were given over into the hand of one unified people: not into their hands, but into their hand...
Which means that the message that that pasuk itself reveals, in the unity of Yosef and the brothers, is the same exact message that the Torah is hinting to regarding the Chashmonaim as well; and both messages are gleaned from the same five ידות!
The message that this teaches us is truly very great and one that needs constant chizuk. Because unity is something that the Sattan despises and tries to stop tooth and nail; we must try our utmost to steer away from his plans.
Chanukah is a time of great unity in families, and the more that one focuses on that and tries to implement it into his own life, the more he will merit to have it and appreciate it too. The Chashmonaim were one family united in one holy cause—and every Chanukah family gathering is meant to do the same. One family, united for one cause: to come close to Hashem Yisbarach and fulfill His will together as one. That is truly what Hashem wants most of all...Besiyata diShmaya.
