Shabbat Miketz

Shabbat Chanukah 5777

It’s the 2nd longest Sedra in the entire Torah. We jump from under 6,000 letters last week, to nearly 8,000 this week, and that’s without the 2nd Sefer for Chanukah.

 

Yup, it’s a long one.

 

So let’s look instead at a comment made this week by Chief Rabbi Sacks.

 

Discussing an interesting law about Shabbat v. Chanukah, he notes a ruling that if on Friday-Chanukah one only has a single candle, then the Shabbat light overrides the Chanukah Menorah.

 

This, he says, is because the importance of the family home and peace amongst the family, represented and promoted by the Shabbat candles, trumps the light of the military victory of Chanukah. Even though Chanukah was a greater miracle, even though without it we would have no Shabbat or Jewish Home at all, nevertheless the Shalom Bayis is more important.

 

I really love that idea. One of the quirks of our calendar, is that the 5th Candle of Chanukah can never be on a Friday night. The first time that the lit candles outnumber the unlit ones can never be on a Shabbat, nevertheless we will always have the Shabbat candles. Regardless of what night Chanukah it is, regardless of where we are on the scale of Chanukah candles, we will still be kindling the Shabbat candles.

 

This year, the last three days of Chanukah really emphasise our moral and religious victory over the Syrian-Greeks, {yes, it was the Seleucid branch of the Greek Empire, based in modern day Syria, who oppressed and tried to annihilate the Jews – some things never change!).

 

The 6th Candle is on Rosh Chodesh which they tried to ban, attempting to disrupt the cycle of family life and festivals.

 

The 7th Candle is on Shabbat which they also tried to ban, attempting to remove the vital quality of Shabbat and Shalom Bayis.

 

The 8th Candle always connects to the Mitzvah of Bris Milah which was also the subject of a Seleucid ban attempting to deny the connection between the Jewish body and Hashem.

 

Yet here we are, still celebrating Rosh Chodesh and our calendar. Still lighting the Shabbat candles and bringing peace to the world. And here we are, still performing the Bris Milah and cementing our Covenant with the Almighty, understanding that our connection with Him is not just theological and for the soul, but is practical and for our physical body and self as well.

 

Chanukah is more than latkes and donuts, it’s even more that the lights themselves; it’s about our connection, our commitment and our responsibility.

 

Let’s hope and pray that these candles can truly bring some much needed light and morality in a world that is currently sadly lacking both.

 

Wishing you all a Shabbat Shalom, a Gut Chodesh and a Lichtiker Chanukah,

Rabbi Dovid