Miketz/Chanukah - Two Extra Years
Everything good takes time.
Shabbat Shalom and Chanukah Sameach!
It’s wonderful to be back with all of you. I want to thank Rabbi Gotlib for stepping in so capably during my absence and express my gratitude to the entire community for your patience and support throughout my surgery and recovery.
Many of you have asked whether I feel different or improved yet. The answer is both yes and no. This type of surgery is unique, and the doctors emphasized that there will be ups and downs before all the benefits are realized.
As Chanukah approached, I found a deep connection between my experience and the message of the holiday, especially through the story of Yosef. Every year, we read about Yosef during Chanukah, no matter how early or late it falls. This year, Chanukah is unusually late—it begins on Christmas for the first time since 2005 and won’t begin with it again until 2035. Chanukah, often celebrated in December, frequently draws comparisons to Christmas, sometimes leading to playful mashups like "Hannukahmas" or "Chrismikah." While these connections reflect the overlap with the broader secular holiday season, I believe there is a deeper reason for this association: Chanukah offers a profound perspective on perseverance in galut—exile
Chanukah commemorates a victory, but it’s a bittersweet one. Yes, we defeated the Greeks, but within a relatively short time, the Romans took over, leading to the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash. So why do we celebrate Chanukah with such joy and fanfare if the victory was only temporary?
The answer, I believe, lies in the story of Yosef, which is why the Torah reading during Chanukah always aligns with his narrative. Yosef’s story is filled with lessons about patience, authenticity, and the ability to persevere through adversity and exile.
This week’s parsha presents one of the most perplexing moments in Yosef’s journey: Pharaoh, after meeting him for only a few minutes, elevates Yosef—an imprisoned foreigner, a "Hebrew," and a dream interpreter—to the position of viceroy, second only to Pharaoh himself. How is it possible for a former convict to ascend to such a high position so quickly? Some commentators attribute this to a miracle, but there must be a deeper lesson for us to learn.
To understand this moment, we need to revisit the end of last week’s parsha, where Yosef remains in prison after asking the butler to remember him to Pharaoh. In fact, the butler forgets him, and Rashi explains that Yosef had to endure two additional years in prison because he placed too much trust in the butler instead of fully placing his faith in Hashem. On the surface, this seems like an impossibly high standard. Are we not supposed to recognize that God works through human messengers?
Here’s what I think: Yosef’s journey required him to become fully authentic. He had to be the most genuine leader imaginable—someone who could stand before Pharaoh and the Egyptian people with a message of truth, even if it was hard to hear. Yosef’s plan to conserve during the years of plenty for the years of famine ahead was not a popular message. When politicians tell people to save their money, they’re often met with skepticism or resistance. Yosef needed to communicate his vision with absolute sincerity, without even a hint of manipulation or self-interest.
The extra two years in prison taught Yosef this lesson. Even the slight misstep of relying on the butler rather than Hashem revealed a trace of insincerity that needed to be refined. Had Yosef not gone through this process, Pharaoh might have doubted his authenticity. But instead, Pharaoh recognized Yosef’s brilliance—not just as an interpreter of dreams, but as someone who could inspire and lead a nation. Those two additional years were essential for Yosef to become the leader he was destined to be.
And this is the message of Chanukah. Yes, we won the battle against the Greeks, but we lost the larger war. Why do we celebrate? Because Chanukah teaches us that being Jewish requires patience and perseverance. The long exile that followed the Hasmonean victory is part of a refining process. Just as Yosef had to endure his "two extra years" in prison, we, too, are in a period of preparation—what our tradition refers to as the era of Mashiach ben Yosef. This is a time of struggle and refinement, ultimately preparing us for the arrival of Mashiach ben David and the ketz—the end of times—which is hinted at in the title of this week's parsha, Miketz.
This lesson is well aligned with the spirit of this time of year. New Year’s resolutions don’t come to fruition overnight. They require time, persistence, and the willingness to stick with the process. It’s important not to become discouraged even if results aren’t immediate.
This lesson also resonates with me in a deeply personal way right now. Everything good takes time—whether it’s recovering from surgery, personal growth, or the unfolding of Jewish history. I’m so grateful to be part of a congregation that understands and embraces this philosophy. Your support reminds me that patience and Torah go hand in hand, and for that, I thank you.
Shabbat Shalom and Chanukah Sameach!
Rabbi Eliezer Hirsch