From Zos Chanukah to Yosef HaTzaddik’s rise to power to Hei Teves:
A Dramatic and Quick Pivot to the Days of Moshiach
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik
Shabbos parshas Mikeitz which rarely does not occur during Chanukah, is special this year in that it falls after Chanukah. This year Chanukah ends on Erev Shabbos followed by Shabbos parshas Mikeitz which is immediately followed by Hei Teves, the anniversary of Lubavitch’s court victory for the return of the seforim of the Agudas Chasidei Chabad Library.
For every day of the eight days of Chanukah we add an additional candle. This represents constant ascendance in matters of holiness. On the 8th day of Chanukah ‘Zos Chanukah’ the menorah is complete with all the candles burning brightly. Every day of Chanukah we added a candle and thereby created a pattern of ascension in holiness. What do we do in the days that follow Chanukah? Do we stop this pattern or do we somehow continue to ascend in matters of holiness?
Chanukah was the dedication of the second Beis HaMikdash and the reading of the Torah during Chanukah is about the dedication of the Mishkan. It says that the lights of Chanukah will never be extinguished. The light of Chanukah will remain with us throughout the galus, and will continue even through the days of the Moshiach and in the third Beis HaMikdash.
Chanukah is special because of the self-sacrifice of the Jewish people. We recite the prayer of Al HaNissim where it says that the miracle of Chanukah was ‘in those days at this time’. One might think that in our times that we are a minority and we are weak and we are unable to accomplish our mission. The light of the Chanukah candles teaches us that we should not be afraid of the darkness of the galus and that the light of Chanukah shines into the darkness. With the inspiration and the holiness of Chanukah we have the strength to convert the darkness of the galus and bring the light of redemption into the world which is our mission.
In Tehillim 132:17 it says: “I prepared a candle for my anointed one”. The candle refers to the candle of Chanukah and my anointed one refers to the Moshiach.
As we complete the holiday of Chanukah we don't stop ascending in matters of holiness.
Our pattern of ascending in matters of holiness continues on with the preparation for the third Beis HaMikdash.
Some people might feel that they are far from the days of the Moshiach because of all of the difficulties and challenges we face in these times. How could we possibly be quickly ushered into the days of the Moshiach? It seems more a hope than a reality.
In this week's parsha, the Torah teaches an important lesson. The beginning of the parsha details how Yosef HaTzaddik was in jail. In just a few hours he was released from jail and became the Mishne lMelech, the second-in-command over Mitzrayim, the most powerful country in the world at that time. Just like Hashem took Yosef HaTzaddik in a few moments from prisoner to the pinnacle of power the very same thing will occur with Moshiach. In the next moment Moshiach can come and the third Beis HaMikdash will descend. We can all go to Eretz Yisroel and be together with Moshiach.
To be able to feel that Moshiach is not a dream rather Moshiach is imminent and to focus on the Geula we need Hei Teves. Hei Teves is the day that it was proven to all that a Rebbe is alive through his children which are the Chassidim. Hei Teves was the day that the Previous Rebbe’s library was redeemed because they belonged to the Chassidim, Agudas Chassidei Chabad. They belonged to the Chassidim because a Rebbe’s life is in His children, Chassidim. The Rebbe's request was that we should buy new seforim on this day. The reason is not just to buy new seforim but to learn them. By learning them we connect ourselves to the Rebbe. In the Rebbe’s sichos and mamarim Moshiach is not just a dream but also a reality. When we learn from them it becomes that way for us as well.
By internalizing the message of the lights of Chanukah in their fullest measure, taking with us the lesson of Yosef HaTzaddik's sudden rise to power and learn Chassidus we will merit to immediately go with Moshiach to the third Beis HaMikdash to witness the rekindling of the menorah.
A Good Shabbos