Everyone knows the famous story of
Parasha Miketz, which starts off with the anxiety of Pharoh due to
his dreams. The posuk says, "He (Pharoh) was standing on the
river when seven cows emerged from it - nice, fat looking ones,
grazing in the reed grass. Suddenly, seven other cows emerged after
them, looking scrawny and bad. These skinny cows consumed the
healthy, fat looking cows..."
The second dream he had was of seven
skinny stalks swallowing seven bulky stalks. As his anxiety grew,
Pharoh wondered, “Usually it's the strong and healthy which reigns
over the weak and sick, why were the laws of physics in my dream
contrary to what should happen in real life? And why have I had this
dream everyday for two years? Is there someone who is weaker than I
am that will reign over my kingship? Is it possible?”
This story isn't different from the
Chanukah story!
The Yevanim (Greeks) tried destroying
every aspect of Judaism we had. They tried making us forget our Torah
by forbidding Torah, Mitzvos, and Tefillos. They took everything holy
and made it unconsecrated. Hashem came to our aid when we needed it
the most. Matisyahu ben Yochanan - Cohen Gadol and the Chashmona'im
were given great power and defeated the Greeks. We were out-numbered
and weak! Hashem with His Great Mercy took us out of the hands of the
Greeks. The weak reigned over the strong!
Rav Brevda (may HaRav Shlomo Leib ben Miriam have a Refua Sheleima b'Karov) says that everyone talks about the Story of Purim and how Haman wanted to annihilate the Jewish population. If you were to ask someone, “What was a bigger miracle, Purim or Chanukah?” Most people would probably answer, “Purim!” However, Rav Brevda says the Story of Chanukah (verses Purim) wasn't as small as we think! We had very little zchus of being saved because we didn't learn Torah or do Mitzvos – we couldn't! Regarding Purim; there was no decree to stop learning Torah or doing Mitzvos! Haman HaRasha just wanted to kill us all. We had the zchus of our Torah and Mitzvos helping us, however, by Chanukah, Hashem mamish saved us with whatever little zchus we had. The weak were now conquering the strong!
Rav Brevda (may HaRav Shlomo Leib ben Miriam have a Refua Sheleima b'Karov) says that everyone talks about the Story of Purim and how Haman wanted to annihilate the Jewish population. If you were to ask someone, “What was a bigger miracle, Purim or Chanukah?” Most people would probably answer, “Purim!” However, Rav Brevda says the Story of Chanukah (verses Purim) wasn't as small as we think! We had very little zchus of being saved because we didn't learn Torah or do Mitzvos – we couldn't! Regarding Purim; there was no decree to stop learning Torah or doing Mitzvos! Haman HaRasha just wanted to kill us all. We had the zchus of our Torah and Mitzvos helping us, however, by Chanukah, Hashem mamish saved us with whatever little zchus we had. The weak were now conquering the strong!
So was Pharoh's anxiety irrational? We
see in this week's Parasha that Yosef, a slave, rose to be secondary
to King!
May we have a wonderful Shabbos and
Chanukah!
Nisso
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