As we have entered the month of Kislev, I would like to share an idea, or rather a theme, that the Jewish people have gone through for hundreds of years, both as a nation and as individuals. The theme is based on a passuk כי אשב בחושך ה׳ אור לי “When I sit in darkness, Hashem is my light.” Rav Chaim Shmulevitz z”l beautifully relates this passuk to a story in the Midrash regarding יוסף משיתא who Chazal refers to as a Jewish traitor, but yet an inspiration to the Jewish people too. How is this so?
When the enemies reached the Bais Hamikdash, they were afraid to enter the haichal. They told someone named Yosef, who was present at the time, “If you go in, you can keep whatever you find.” Yosef took the offer and entered the heichal, and came out with the Menorah. The non-Jews said “That’s too holy for a simple person to privately own” so they told him to go in again and keep whatever he wants. This time Yosef said “I will not.” Because of this refusal, the non-Jewish dragged him with a donkey that can inflict harsh pain upon him. As he was in pain he screamed “Woe to me, that I angered my Creator.” This Yosef reached a very high spiritual level; he wasn’t complaining about his pain, but rather he was upset that he angered his Creator.
What happen to Yosef? Rav Chaim explains that Yosef realized how low he fell spiritually; even the non-Jews had more spiritual sensitivity. This caused a great transformation in him and he refused no matter what to enter the heichal again. The darkness is what gave him the light of clarity.
In Parshas Vayetze, Yaakov Avinu enters the darkness of galus. The Bobver Rebbe z”l has a beautiful discussion regarding the travels of Yaakov, and how he instilled an eternal light in the darkness of night that will stay with the Jewish people until the full light of the geulah will arrive.
The Yevanim represent the ultimate darkness, because they acted fully against the light of Torah. Hence, this a month of incredible opportunity to find the deep light of the Torah, each person on their own level.
May we see the full light emanating from Tziyon, bimhera beyameinu.
by Rabbi Daniel Coren
