Vayeshev 1996

Today is Shabbat Chanukah,and today the rabbis have seen fit that we read almost every Chanukah the Torah portion Vayeshev.  Why should this be so? What's more, Chanukah is the longest holiday of all the Jewish holidays.  It is eight days.  Succos is only seven days; Shmini Atzeres is a special holiday as is Simchat Torah.  Also, why were the Maccabees in such a great hurry to light the menorah? After all, when the original Tabernacle in the desert was completed, it was completed actually on the 25th day of Kislev, but Moshe Rabbeinu did not dedicate the Tabernacle until the first day of Nisan.  He waited several months before he lit the menorah. Why were the Maccabees in such a hurry? Why didn't they just wait the week until they could get new oil? What's more, according to the Halacha, if all the oil was ritually unclean and there was no other oil, they could have lit that oil.  Why did they specifically need pure oil with the seal of the high priest?
It also seems strange that the Maccabees would be so intent on lighting the oil since almost nobody could see it.  The menorah was inside the holy part of the Temple.  The windows were wide on the outside and narrow on the inside.  Only the priests could enter the holy section of the Tabernacle.  The people really could not see it. What was the big rush?
The Maccabees knew something, though, very important, and that is that it is the inner light which is the most important of all.  Without that inner light, you cannot achieve anything. You must have that inner feeling of sincerity and devotion and dedication in order to motivate you to overcome all obstacles and achieve your goals. Without that inner feeling, the first little obstacles will overwhelm you.  Besides that, we all know that the most important thing

in life cannot be seen, but we know they exist and they are within us.  If you love somebody, you know you have that feeling and that love will persist and allow you to do great things as long as that love is always treated with respect and the party you love does not do terrible things to destroy the love.  However, we all know that unless love is nurtured and protected and encased with respect and sincerity and devotion and dedication it will die.
The Maccabees had not just fought an external enemy.  They were fighting an internal enemy as well.  The forces of Hellenism were sweeping over the Jewish people.  Many Jews felt that it was no longer necessary to be Jews, that the Greek ideals of beauty, of literature, of sports and philosophy were enough,  they had lost their inner drive.  They forgot that Greek culture lacked a feeling for morality and the Jewish message was still needed.  The Maccabees knew that they had to tend to that inner light immediately or it would die.
The rabbis teach us also that as we enter our house, we should put the mezuzah on the right hand side and the menorah on the left hand side.  Originally, the menorah was meant to be placed outside but because of the persecution of the Parsees, we were forced to bring the menorah inside.  The Parsee or Zoroastrian religion still exists today.  There is a temple in Houston and there are followers in India.  It was the official religion of the Persian Empire, and when we Jews lived in Babylonia, we lived under the rule of the Persian Empire.  The Zoroastrian religion considered land, air, fire, and water holy, and you could not light fire any time you wanted.  We Jews had to light the Chanukah candles surreptitiously under

cover, like the Moranos did the Shabbat candles many years later. The rabbis tell us that the Chanukah candles had to be lit outside to publicize the miracle.  We all know that the most important thing about the mezuzah is the inside of the mezuzah, the parchment.  People come to the shul very upset. They have just paid $100 or $150 for a mezuzah cover and they are upset to find a parchment cost $35 or $40,  They do not realize that the most important thing is the parchment inside.  In fact, theoretically, you could put a hole in the doorpost and put the parchment there. The cover is not necessary, but we know that we have to protect the parchment, otherwise it will deteriorate. The rabbis tell us that we have to place the mezuzah on the right because the inner message is the most important.  A Jew should believe with all his heart in the Shma and the principles of Judaism.  It is the inside that counts.
When then, though, do we light the menorah outside if all that is important is the inner feeling? The rabbis teach us that, true, the inner feeling is the most important thing, but it will die unless it has outer form.  You cannot say you love somebody and then never want to do anything for that person or be with that person or sacrifice for that person. The menorah is to proclaim that we are proud that we are Jews; we are happy that we are Jews,  In spite of all its difficulties, we want to be Jews.  A couple must be proud of each other.  They must be willing to do things for each other. Their love will die unless they are willing to be proud of each other.  Many times a spouse will come to my office really broken up because their spouse does not like to be seen with them in public because their spouse is not proud of them.  It is important that spouses be proud of each other, that they be willing to be seen

with each other and work with each other and help each other and share with each other.
Why is Chanukah eight days? Eight in Judaism is a symbol of G-d’s gifts to us.  One of   G-d’s gifts to us is the capacity to sacrifice, to dedicate ourselves, to devote ourselves to each other, our people, and especially to our spouse and family. Why do we read the Torah portion Vayeshev now? Because Joseph was always proud of who he was.  He went through horrific experiences, but he was always able to overcome them because he was proud of who he was.  His inner light shone through.
We all hope and pray that the young couple who are going to be married this weekend will always be proud of each other and will always be willing to sacrifice for each other so their inner light will always burn bright because their mezuzah is on the right, but it is also true that this inner light must be shone, must be demonstrated if their love is to grow and blossom.
I am reminded of the story they tell about Adam and Eve.  One day Eve came to Adam and said, "Adam, do you love me?" Adam answered, "Who else?" We can never take our spouse for granted but we should always demonstrate our love and devotion to them and, as the Maccabees did to their people, so that both our marriages and our people will be strong so the Mashiach will come quickly in our day.  Amen.