RABBI BEN ZION SNEH
Connection – Shabbos Chanukah
As our Parsha opens, Yosef is rushed out of prison to meet Pharaoh. Pharaoh has had a series of recurring dreams that no one could explain. Yosef then proceeds to reveal the meaning of the dreams as well as the solutions to the problems they pose. After letting Pharaoh know what lies in store for the people of Egypt, Yosef is appointed to be the Viceroy, the second in command to Pharaoh himself. He is in charge of storing food during the years of plenty, and thereafter, he takes command of distribution, throughout seven long years of famine in the region.
Rabbi Eliyahu Lopian, the Lev Eliyahu, asks an important question: The Torah describes the qualifications for this most senior position quite clearly: Ish navon ve chacham – an outstanding individual, full of wisdom and understanding. Rav Lopian asks – wouldn’t it be wiser to request an expert in logistics? A man who can stop the unruly crowds from charging at the gates to get at the precious grain during the years of famine?
Not so, says the Lev Eliyahu. In years of plenty, it takes a wise man (a chacham) and a man with intuition and understanding (navon) not to be swayed by the excessive wealth surrounding him. This wise leader must realize that the day of reckoning is not far off – give away too much now, and there will be nothing for the future. The message is poignant; so too, we, in this world for a short time, should take note that now we still have the ability to accumulate spiritual wealth, but when we get to the next world, we will not be able to do mitzvos. The accounting will have ended. We must do our best and not be blinded by the sparkle of the wealth around us seeking to give away our precious time to all that glitters, but is definitely not gold.
Chanukah is a time of rededication. It’s a time for us to reconsider our path in life. A time to answer some very difficult, personal questions. Life moves faster than a speeding train, and yet we must look deep and take the time to connect to our essence.
Do we run through our morning prayers as if being chased by a demon urging us to move faster and faster, lest we ponder the value of the prayers we are saying, or do we respect the time allotted by our sages for prayer and use it to reconnect with G-d, expressing our love and gratitude for all He does to enhance our lives? Do we realize the value of learning another Mishnah, another daf of Gemara, a halacha, a pasuk Chumash with Rashi, or do we waste away our precious time with frivolous behaviors, however enjoyable they may seem at the time?
Let’s take a moment, when we light our menorahs, to close our eyes, to take a deep breath, and when opening them once more – to gaze upon the beauty Hashem has given us in our very homes. With love in our hearts we can be truly grateful for the precious lights in our lives.
Written by R’ Avrohom Hillel Reich based on a lesson and story by Harav Ben Tziyon Sneh Shlita
