The question is how?
This week’s Parsha Mikeitz nearly always coincides with Chanuka. Chanuka is the symbol of lighting the Menorah at night, during the darkness. Furthermore, many have the custom to light the Menorah below ten Tefachim (approximately 80 cm – 32 inches) to bring the light as low as possible. Although the Shechina – Divine presence does not normally reside below 10 tefachim, Chanuka is an exception.
But the Chag of Chanuka doesn’t last forever. We have to take the light of Chanuka, the messages of this spiritual time and store it for the times when we are in darkness experiencing spiritual challenges.
Chazal tell us that the Yevanim wanted the Jews to write on the horns of an ox that they don’t have connection to the G-d of the Jews.
The Sefas Emes asks that this is contradictory. If it is the G-d of the Jews then how can they say that they don’t have connection? And if they don’t have connection then it isn’t the G-d of the Jews.
The Sefas Emes explains that the Yevanim agreed that Hashem is the G-d of the Jews but they were trying to tell the Jews that their behavior and actions don’t have any impact in Heaven. Who cares who you are and what you do.
But the message of Chanuka is that every Jew no matter where they are holding lights the Menorah or joins in the lighting of the Menorah. And on Chanuka every Jew even if he has fallen so low, when lighting the Menorah is just like the Kohen Gadol lighting the Menorah and their home is like the Beis Hamikdash. And just like the lights of the Menorah in the Beis Hamikdash brought light to the whole world so too our lights bring light to our hearts and to all those around us. And no matter how great or how low we are spiritually, our lighting has such a powerful impact in Heaven.
This teaches us that every Jew has such power with their behavior and his or her actions have such great ramifications. This is the message of Chanuka and the light that we have to try and save for after Chanuka when the lights of the Menorah have already gone out but the light in our hearts remain alight.
There was an informer that caused terrible damage for the Jews in his town. The situation was completely out of control.
The townspeople sent a delegation to the holy Chozeh (the Seer) of Lublin. They mentioned the name of the informer to the Chozeh. He replied that this man is shining in all the Heavens.
The delegation was confused. They decided to come back a few weeks later. Then the Chozeh agreed that this man was causing a lot of trouble. They asked the Chozeh how could it be that the last time he spoke so differently.
The Chozeh explained that then it was Chanuka and most probably he had lit the Menorah so his Neshama shone in Heaven. Now that Chanuka is over he is back to himself.
Our goal is not only to shine when our Menorah is alight but to keep that fire in our hearts that we shine a whole year.
May Hashem help all of us that we utilize this special time to light up and warm up our hearts no matter how cold and how dark they are, and pour enough oil that our hearts remain alight the whole year.
