MIKETZ 2001  
 
In the Torah portion, Miketz, we have great confusion.  The brothers did not understand what was happening to them.  Here, they had been accused of being spies.  One of their number had been taken from them.  Their money for the food they bought in Egypt had been returned in their bags. They were completely befuddled. They expected the worst.  When they came back to Egypt with Benjamin, they were treated royally.  They were told G-d must have given them the money in their bags.  They were even wined and dined by the viceroy, himself, and they were seated in their birth order.  Everything seemed fine when, all of a sudden, they were accused of stealing the viceroy's cup. They did not know what had happened.  Here they had done nothing wrong. They tried their best and everything was turned on its head.
The problem is they made wrong assumptions.  They thought that the viceroy of Egypt was an Egyptian.  They thought they were dealing with a man who was playing completely straight with them, and they could not figure out what happened.
Today, in Israel, we see the same situation. The people on the left are especially confused. They do not understand what is happening.  Here, they
 
made such a generous offer to the Palestinians.  Why haven't they accepted it? Not only have they not accepted it, they have started a war, an armed Intifada. Israel still does not consider this a war, but the Palestinians do.  In fact, there is a joke going around in Israel today, which says that an optimist is one who learns English; a pessimist is one who learn Arabic; and a realist is one who learned how to swim.  What went wrong? The Jews in Israel made wrong assumptions. They thought that Arafat wants to make peace, that he wants a two state solution, but he does not.  He wants all of Israel.  He entered into the peace process with the idea that this is Israel's fig leaf for giving up, just as the Vietnam peace conference was really a fig leaf for South Vietnam giving up.  In South Africa, the government gave up because they did not feel they had right on their side.  The Soviet Union collapsed because the people no longer believed in communism.  Arafat believes that Israel no longer believes in Zionism, and, therefore, the whole negotiation was a fig leaf for Israel's surrender.  Also, the Israelis and most of the West make the assumption that the conflict is between the Palestinians and the Jews.  It is not; it is between the Arabs and the Jews, and the Arabs do not want any Jew in Israel at all.  The Grand Mufti in Saudi Arabia at the end of Ramadan, talked about expelling all
 
Rabbi Joseph Radinsky
the Zionists invaders.  They do not want a two state solution; they want Israel destroyed, and until we understand that, the conflict is over Israel's right to exist, we are always going to be disappointed.  The Arab tactics have changed, but their goal has not.  Also, most Israelis believe there can be no military solution.  That, too, is fake.  Arafat believes there can be a military solution. He knows that if he can get Israel to retreat to the 1967 lines, he can defeat Israel with commando operations.  He can sent commandos into Israel and destroy power stations, communication equipment, capture armories, etc. so the Israeli army cannot even mobilize.  Remember, you do not need modern weapons to kill people.  The Hutus killed almost one million Tutsis with machetes.  While Arafat's army is wreaking havoc, the other Arab armies would invade.  After all, Israel, including the West Bank, is only 50 miles wide.  At the narrowest point on the 1967 border, it is only 9 miles wide.   It has no strategic depth.
The whole idea that there cannot be a military solution is false.  Look at the Civil War and World War I and World War II.  Military solutions only work for maybe two or three generations, but it has worked in Europe since 1945.
 
Rabbi Joseph Radinsky
During the Civil War, people said there was no military solution, and McClellan built a wonderful army, but he refused to use it.  It was not until Grant took the army McClellan had created and used it that the north won. McClellan became the peace candidate in 1864.  Generals are notoriously bad leaders.  They are used to giving orders and taking orders.  They do not know how to politically motivate people.  In the United States, professional generals have made the worst presidents.
Arafat wants to be known as the conqueror or Jerusalem in Israel.  He does not want a puny state, and if he would settle for that, I am sure he would be killed. Iraq and Iran have warned him not to make a treaty based on Clinton's ideas.  It is important what assumptions you make.
When eventually in next week's Torah portion, when Joseph declared, "I am Joseph," everything cleared up, and the brothers understood what had happened to them.  Until the leaders in Israel and the United States realize that Arafat does not want peace, he wants total victory, there will be no hope of even achieving a cold peace based on arms, but if Israel is strong and determined,
 
Rabbi Joseph Radinsky
they will eventually overcome, just like we overcame the Soviet Union, and just like today on the borders of North Korea and South Korea there is peace, not because North Korea does not want to attack, but she knows she would be met by overwhelming force.  Arafat should know also that he should stop his attacks or he will be met with overwhelming force.  Until Barak, or his successor, give him that message, there will not even be a cold armistice.  Peace is probably destined to come to the Middle East when the Arab states become democracies.
I am reminded of the story they tell about a man who was newly hired in an office.  He had a big document in his hand and was standing in front of the shredder looking very befuddled.  A secretary came by and said, "Can I help you?"  He said, "Yes."  She asked, "What can I do for you?"  He said, "I don't know how to use this machine."  She took the document, and put it into the shredder. The man still kept standing there.  She asked, "What's the matter now?"  He replied, "Where do the copies come out?"  If we make wrong assumptions, we are going to be shredded.  Let us hope and pray we will all make the right assumptions so the Mashiach will come quickly in our day. Amen.
 
We always read the Torah portion, Miketz, on Chanukah. Miketz speaks about Joseph being brought out of prison and becoming the viceroy of Egypt. Joseph never gave up hope that his dreams would be fulfilled. Even when he was persecuted in Egypt and sent to prison for a crime he did not commit, he did not give up. It is true that the rabbis criticize him because he put his faith in the butler to get him out of prison. He told the butler that, "When it will be good for you and you shall do for me a kindness, you shall mention me to Pharaoh, and you shall get me out of this building." Because of this, the rabbis say Joseph had to spend two more years in prison. It is not just that he had to trust G-d because, after all, we know that our religion teaches that G-d helps those who help themselves. When Yaacov confronted his brother, Esau, he did not just pray; he also prepared for war and sent him a huge gift. The problem, according to the Rashbam, was only depending on the butler. He should have tried whatever means he could to get out of jail. G-d uses each of us to fulfill His purposes, and we should take advantage of any opportunities we are given. The butler eventually did come through for Joseph, but it took two years. Maybe Joseph could have gotten out of prison earlier if he also sought other means.
We read this Torah portion on Chanukah because during the days of Chanukah the Jewish people were being persecuted, and all sorts of means were necessary to get rid of this persecution, to regain our religious freedom. We say that great miracles happened at Chanukah time, and they did, but that does not mean that it did not come with suffering. All the five Maccabees brothers died unnatural deaths. They died fighting for the Jewish people. Even Yehuda died in battle. After we regained the Temple, the Syrian-Greeks left us alone while they put down a rebellion in Mesopotamia. Afterwards, Licius came after Yehuda, and, although Yehuda had made a treaty with Rome, the Romans came too late, and he died in battle. It actually was 25 years more before we won our independence. We should never think that because G-d is helping us there will not be any need for any sacrifices.
In the second blessing that we recite when lighting the Chanukah candles, we thank G-d, Who has done miracles in those days in this time. The rabbis ask, why do we say plural miracles, and why does it say this time? This teaches us that G-d constantly does miracles, but He requires us to do our part. He requires us to seize the opportunities.
We know that in the current situation in Israel, G-d has done many miracles. After all, seven empires had to be destroyed before Israel could even come into being: the Turkish Empire, the Russian Empire; the Austrian-Hungarian Empire; the Italian Empire; the German Empire; the French Empire; and the British Empire. The only thing that Russia and the United States ever agreed upon during the Cold War was the creation of the State of Israel, each for their own reasons. Miracles are happening every day, especially at this time of year.
We see how in Israel terrorism is being confronted, but now Israel does not stand alone. The United States realizes the terrible evils of terrorism and has even labeled for the first time Hamas and Hezbollah as terrorist organizations. The United States realizes that it is not Israel that is the problem; it is Islam triumphal. It is radical Islam who wants to destroy the world so it can rise to the top. It is the triumphal ambitions of radical Islam.
I am reminded of the story of the kindergartener that just started school. The teacher asked, "What is your name?" He said, "Sam." The teacher asked, "What is your father's name?" The little boy said, "Daddy." The teacher then said, "That's right, but what does your mother call your Daddy?" The little
boy said, "My mother doesn't call him anything. She likes him."
Calling Israel names as the Europeans are now doing will not accomplish anything. Radical triumphal Islam must be stopped, and, thank G-d, President Bush is stopping them. Miracles are happening all the time. It does not mean there will not be casualties or suffering, but just as G-d saved His people during Chanukah time, He is doing it now, too. Let us all hope and pray that we will do our part so the Mashiach will come quickly in our day. Amen.