תוספות ברכה – 37:22 “למען הציל אותו מידם להשיבו אל אביו” – “With the intent to rescue him from their hand, to return him to his father.” In the Sefer Zera Avrohom, and Yalkut Eliezer, there is a Midrash brought down on the Posuk in Shir Hashirim 7:14 “הדודאים נתנו ריח ועל פתחנו כל מגדים” – “The flowers yield their fragrance, and at our doors are all choice fruits.” The Midrash Agadah says that, “הדודאים נתנו ריח” refers to Reuven, who saved Yosef from death, and the words, “ועל פתחנו כל מגדים” refers to Chanukah. What is the connection between Reuven and Chanukah? Why by the Mitzvah of Ner Chanukah is there a Mitzvah to place the candles near the Reshus Harabbim, in a public place – בפרהסיה, while by the Yom Tov of Purim, one is allowed to Lain Megilas Esther even in a private house? At the time of Purim, it was well known of the miracle of Purim, and therefore there isn’t a need to publicize it, for it was inherently publicized. There was a decree against all of Klal Yisroel, and they were miraculously saved. The Mitzvah of Laining Megilas Esther, is just a remembrance of the miracle. This is not like the miracle of the flask of oil that was found on Chanukah. There were very few select who were able to see the miracle of the oil burning for eight nights in the Mikdash. Thus, it needed to be publicized, and therefore the Mitzvah is to place the Menorah near the Reshus Harabbim, where many people pass by, in order to publicize the great miracle that had occurred. Reuven had heard that the brothers wanted to kill Yosef, and he told the brothers that instead, they should throw him into a pit. “למען הציל אותו מידם” – The Torah tells us that Reuven did so in order to save Yosef. The Torah is telling us what was in Reuven’s heart, not what Reuven actually said. One may have thought that perhaps Reuven had some devious reason to have Yosef thrown in the pit, so the Torah comes to testify that in fact his intentions were to save Yosef. That which was hidden, the Torah publicized to us. This is what the Midrash is telling us, comparing Reuven to the Yom Tov of Chanukah. That just as it was not known what Reuven’s intentions were, and therefore the Torah publicized it, so too the Yom Tov of Chanukah, very few actually saw the miracle of the burning candles for eight nights, and thus it must be publicized.
