In this week’s Parsha, Yosef ascends to great power. He became the viceroy, the ruler of Mitzrayim. In this role, he encountered his brothers who came during the famine looking for food. As Yosef’s brothers stood facing him, they had no idea it was him. They had no idea that the man they were in front of was their brother Yosef. Yosef knew who they were, but they didn’t recognize Yosef. The question is why not? Why didn’t they recognize their brother? They were all within the same age range. They were raised together. They should have known precisely who Yosef was. They should have looked at him and realized that he was Yosef – their brother.
I heard an incredible answer from my father, Rav Yitzchok Fingerer shlita: The Tur, Rav Yaakov ben Asher says that while physically the brothers could have recognized Yosef, mentally they couldn’t. Yosef’s brothers were unable to fathom or conceive that their brother, the one who was thrown into a pit and sold into slavery, could now become such a great prodigy and success. They couldn’t envision that his fortune could change so remarkably. That’s why Yosef’s brothers didn’t recognize him. When he was younger, Yosef dreamt about opportunities and possibilities, and they mocked him for being a dreamer. Yosef was a dreamer, and they weren’t. That’s why they couldn’t recognize him.
The lesson is so powerful. We must dream about people. We must dream about others’ potential and opportunities that can come their way. If we don’t dream about others, then we will never recognize our dear brothers!
There was once a man who saw the great tzaddik of Yerushalayim, Rav Aryeh Levin zt”l talking to someone who wasn’t wearing a yarmulka. The person was secular and had no connection to Yiddishkeit. The man saw that Rav Aryeh was talking to him with a lot of respect and honor. Later, the man who observed this conversation went to Rav Levin and asked him, “Rabbi, why were you showing that man so much respect? He isn’t religious! He wasn’t even wearing a yarmulka!” Rav Aryeh Levin replied, “To tell you the truth, I’m very short and I couldn’t see his head. I couldn’t tell if he was wearing a yarmulke or not. However, there was one thing I was able to see. I was able to see his heart and he has a beautiful Jewish heart. He has a Jewish soul and so much potential in him. Hopefully, one day he will wear a yarmulka!” We must recognize the value and potential in every individual. Our perception of people must be to see their potential. Let’s believe in others!
We are now celebrating Chanukah. On Chanukah, we light the Menorah to commemorate the fact that the Beis Hamikdash was rededicated and that the light of the Menorah was able to shine once again. The Halacha is that we must light the Menorah facing others. We are meant to light the Menorah facing outside. Why? Why can’t we light the Menorah in our bedrooms or in the inner confines of our homes? Why is this mitzvah different that we must specifically do it so openly?
The answer is so beautiful: The reason why we light facing others is because it’s not just enough for us to light up our own lives. We must also light up the lives of those around us. We have to illuminate, edify, and transform the lives of everyone in our midst. That’s why we light the Menorah facing outside. We light the Menorah facing others so we can uplift them, inspire them, and ignite the spark that they have inside of them. We light facing outside to share and spread the light.
That’s our task as Jews. Our task as a Jew is to take darkness and turn it into light. A little bit of light dispels and drives away so much darkness. That’s the power that we all have. We have the power to uplift and inspire others. All it takes is one person. If you have one small candle, one small light, you can light thousands of other candles. That’s the power that we all have. If you have hope and faith in others, you can change and light up the world. Let’s spread the light and warmth! Let’s spread the love! Let’s not only light up our own lives but let’s light up others’ lives too! Subscribe to our emails by emailing [email protected]. Check out the Jewish n’ Joyful podcast with inspirational and entertaining interviews available on your favorite streaming platform. Let’s light up the world! Ah frelichen Chanukah!
