Awakening to Light: Lessons from Miketz and Chanukah
Parashat Miketz opens with Pharaoh’s dreams — visions so vivid they demand interpretation. Last week, in Parashat Vayeishev, we encountered dreams too, Joseph’s dreams, which sowed pain and tension within his family. Dreams in the Torah, unlike the musings of Freud or Jung, are not mere stirrings of the unconscious; they are messages from the Divine. Joseph himself was not the source of his dreams — only the vessel. Similarly, Pharaoh’s dreams, paired and perplexing, demand Joseph’s unique interpretive gift, honed through his years of suffering and reflection.
Joseph’s journey to this moment is remarkable. The Torah begins this parashah with the words “Vayehi miketz sh’natayim yamim / After two full years” (Gen. 41:1), reminding us that Joseph languished in an underground dungeon for two long years. Imagine the weight of those years — the loneliness, the despair. The modern resonance is too much.
And yet, when the moment came, Joseph emerged ready, not embittered but attuned to God’s voice, ready to interpret Pharaoh’s cryptic dreams of cows and sheaves. Seven years of plenty, Joseph explains, will be followed by seven years of famine. His wisdom saves Egypt and transforms him into a leader of unparalleled influence.
Embedded within this story is a profound teaching: in times of plenty, we must hold on to gratitude. Joseph’s interpretation isn’t just practical; it’s a call to mindfulness. Every morning, we say “Modah/eh Ani” (“I am grateful”) because nothing in this life is guaranteed. Every day is a shocking blessing. Upon waking from his dreams, Pharaoh’s spirit, described in the Torah as “Vatipa’em / agitated (Gen. 41:8),” like the ringing of a bell, awakens him to the urgency of his dreams. The Midrash tells us that Pharaoh understood the dream’s meaning while asleep, but upon waking, its clarity eluded him (Gen. Rabbah 89:5). Dreams often feel like that: clear and vivid in the moment, ephemeral when daylight comes.
As we approach Chanukah, a holiday of light and rededication, we are invited to reflect on our own dreams. What stirs within us? What divine messages are seeking expression in our lives? Just as Pharaoh’s dreams required Joseph to bring them into the light, so too must we nurture and share our dreams. Chanukah reminds us that even the smallest light can banish great darkness. The mitzvah of Chanukah requires only one candle per household each night, yet tradition teaches us to increase the light — to go beyond the minimum. We are a people who refuse to settle for the bare minimum of illumination.
This year, Chanukah carries a heavier weight. The tragic events of October 7, 2023, and the ongoing plight of hostages have cast a shadow over our celebrations. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum has created dreidels and other icons bearing the message, “Bring them home now.” These items are more than symbols; they are reminders of the light we are called to bring into the world. They remind us that even in our darkest moments, we must remember the dreams of our people: freedom, peace, and the return of our loved ones.
The story of Joseph’s ascent begins with a moment of remembering. Pharaoh’s butler recalls Joseph, bringing him out of the dungeon to stand before the king. This act of remembering transforms Joseph’s fate and sets the stage for redemption. Similarly, Chanukah calls us to remember — not just the miracle of the oil, but the resilience of a people — our ancestors — who refused to let their light be extinguished. It is a holiday of rededication, a time to rekindle the flames of hope and purpose within us.
As we light the candles this Chanukah, let us reflect on the dreams stirring within our own souls. Let our spirits ring like bells, resonating with the divine call to bring light into the world. Let us rededicate ourselves to the work of justice, healing, and unity. Herzl’s words, “If you will it, it is no dream,” remind us that dreams, when nurtured and acted upon with passion and care and skill, can become reality. May we, like Joseph, rise to the challenges before us, carrying the light of our dreams into the darkest corners of the world.
Together, let us dream big, remember our sacred purpose, bring our family home and the light of Chanukah into our lives and into the world.