Parashat Miketz
Rabbi’s Drosh
Every descent is for the sake of a greater ascent!
This is a powerful Jewish concept - whenever we find ourselves in a seemingly bad situation, Hashem has put us there because it is necessary in order for the better situation waiting around the corner.
In this week’s Parasha, we continue with the story of Yosef (Joseph) which is a rollercoaster of descents for the sake of greater ascents. We read that Yosef was in prison which seems like the lowest place he had been on his journey. Yet being in this place allowed for the connections which led him to the position of Pharoah’s Viceroy.
The history of the Jewish people reflects this maxim and pattern as well. Throughout the Torah, Tanach, Temple times and more recent Jewish history as well, we see this pattern of the Jewish people falling down, only to rise to greater heights.
On Channukah, we remember the dark descent that the Greeks inflicted upon the people of Israel - forbidding them to study Torah, keep Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh and Brit Milah. From that the Hashmonim rebelled and fought for three years until on the 25th of Kislev they had the double miracle (military victory and the spiritual miracle of the oil) followed by 200 years of Jewish sovereignty, until the destruction of the second Temple and the gift of the festival of Channukah which has continued to increase our light for the past 2000 years.
In secular society we hear the phrase “What goes up, must come down“ but the Jewish story is always “what goes down… is ultimately for us to go up higher“.
After three months of the decent of lockdown, how special that we return to the Shul for Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh and Channukah! See you in Shul!
Shabbat Shalom, Chodesh Tov and Chag Sameach,
Rabbi Friedler