Rabbi Howard Morrison

In this week's Parsha, Joseph experiences two dreams in which he sees himself being superior to his brothers and parents. As a result, his brothers are unable to speak peacefully to him. The Torah says, "V'Lo Yachlu Dabro L'Shalom." A close reading shows us that the word "Shalom" is spelled incomplete with three letters, not four. Rashi and other commentators explain that so great was the hatred of the brothers to Joseph that they could not even discuss basic matters with him.

Since October 7 (10/7), we, the brothers and sisters of the Jewish people, have shared a complete Shalom with each other, more than in years past. Last Monday, thousands upon thousands of Jews united in Ottawa on Parliament Hill, which included over forty-five members of our own shul who rode together on a Federation arranged bus. Some traveled with other affiliated groups or on their own. We saw no counter rallies. Rather, everyone was united in that all Jews have the right to express their Jewish identity in serious and meaningful ways. All streams of Jewish day schools, synagogues, and other Jewish institutions stood as one in the cold and snow for two hours.

As we celebrate Shabbat Chanukah, we are reminded of a time when conflict came from two sources. There were Hellenistic Jews who mocked Jewish tradition and who challenged serious pious Jews who wanted to express their Jewish identities. There were also the Syrian-Greek Hellenists who prohibited all forms of Jewish expression and who desecrated the Holy Temple.

Today, internal Jewish relationships are strong. I pray that will continue to be. However, the likes of Antiochus are paralleled today by Hamas and its supporters. While we have to be honest regarding our personal concerns for safety, I pray that we Jews do not dilute our expressions of Jewish identity. The Halakha teaches us ideally to place the Chanukiah where it can be seen in public in order to publicize the miracles of Chanukah. That same Halakha allows us to place the Chanukiah on a table away from public view if we feel our safety is at stake. I encourage us to make the decisions that are personally appropriate. Either way, let us light the Chanukiah each night.

Our tradition has us add an additional light each night so that we ascend in holiness and do not descend. May the continued lights of Chanukah bring more light to the darkness of the world and eventually drive out the darkness altogether.

In the Talmud, our Sages ask, for which miracle was Chanukah made into a holiday, suggesting there is more than one miracle - the miracle of the vial of oil which lasted not one day but a whole week. Many of us, especially children, hold on to that miracle.

There is also the miracle described in the Al Hanisim prayer - the few over the many; the righteous over the wicked, etc. We dare not neglect our principles when we are in the vast minority. Throughout history, we have often been the minority in terms of beliefs and moral principles. In each era, it has been the dedication to our ideals which has preserved our people and our way of life.

While we celebrate miracles during Chanukah, we are not allowed to rely on miracles from above. We have to do our part. The Maccabees understood this. They were the ones who originated that we are commanded to violate the laws of Shabbat and defend ourselves, lest there be no Sabbaths in the future. Today, we all have to be modern day Maccabees, with each of us using our own personal talents to express our Jewish identities seriously and to actively advocate for Israel and condemn the surge of Jew-hatred in all its forms.

The story of Joseph and his brothers, coupled with the celebration of Chanukah, could not have come at a more appropriate time. May all Jews truly see ourselves as brothers and sisters and glean lessons from Chanukah to help us navigate these challenging times.

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Urim Sameach,
Rabbi Howard Morrison