Shabbos Chanukah typically falls out on Parshas Miketz. In Miketz we read about Pharaoh’s dream of the weakly, thin cows that devour the strong, healthy cows. Yet, astoundingly, the weak cows didn’t look different. They didn’t gain any physical weight. This unique phenomenon is symbolic of Chanukah.
Rav Yitzchok Fingerer explains that the “weak” Jews overcame and beat the power and strength of the mighty Greeks. Yet they stayed Torah scholars and weren’t changed by this sudden boost to become warriors. They maintained their Torah demeanors and did not develop the personalities of warriors. This is because the strength they received wasn’t one of a physical nature but was spiritual.
We find a parallel to this special effect by other great, holy leaders throughout history: When Daniel was in the palace of Nevuchanetzer, when Esther Hamalka was with Achashverosh and when Yosef was viceroy to Pharaoh in Egypt, even though they maintained a special diet and weren’t able to eat many nutritious foods they appeared to be healthy and strong. This proves that it isn’t necessarily physical nurture or sustenance that strengthens us, rather Torah and Mitzvos fortify and embolden us.
