Hanukkah, Miketz, and the Light of Hope

Miracle of Light and Twists of Fate: Hanukkah and “this week’s parshah”

With its gentle glow, the festival of Hanukkah weaves itself into Jewish life each year, illuminating not only the long winter nights but also this week’s parshah, the Torah portion known as “Miketz.” At first glance, one might wonder what connects the miracle of a single jug of oil burning for eight days with Joseph’s sudden rise from prison to a royal court. Yet, on closer examination, both stories share a profound theme: grand reversals of fortune and the triumph of light over darkness.

The Talmud, in tractate Shabbat 21b, recounts how a small jar of oil, seemingly enough for just one day, miraculously burned for eight. From this arose a teaching often paraphrased by the sages: “Ma’at min ha’or doche harbeh min ha’choshech”—a little bit of light can dispel a great deal of darkness. During the same season, we read “Miketz,” which describes how Joseph, in one dramatic moment, transforms from a prisoner into the savior of Egypt and beyond. In both accounts, the depth of night gives way to a sudden dawn.

Psalm 105 offers an additional perspective by noting how Joseph, sold into slavery, was actually sent ahead to preserve life in a time of famine. What at first seemed a cruel misfortune turned out to be the very foundation of his eventual elevation to power. Hanukkah mirrors this pattern: persecution and oppression under the Seleucid Empire yield to the unexpected victory of the Maccabees. Such turnarounds—from apparent defeat to glorious triumph—lie at the core of the Jewish worldview.

Modern threats sometimes resemble these same trials. The Houthis, backed by Iran, and other forces around Israel may appear overwhelming. Yet the lesson of Hanukkah is that a small “jug” of hope can burn far longer than reason might expect, so long as unity and resolve endure. In Pirkei Avot (4:1), we read: “Eizehu gibbor? HaKovesh et yitzro”—“Who is strong? The one who conquers his own inclination.” By analogy, a nation can conquer external darkness only by preserving its inner strength, just as Joseph did in Egypt and the Maccabees did in their time.

Hardship can trigger a deeper discovery of potential. Joseph found fame precisely because of his ordeals, and the Maccabees displayed unexpected valor when they were cornered by a powerful enemy. This “touch of the spiritual” often emerges in moments of great tension, when previous “reserves of oil” miraculously burn brighter than anyone might imagine.

Reading “Miketz” in tandem with Psalm 105 reveals a broader divine plan. Joseph’s descent into Egypt was no random misfortune; it laid the groundwork for saving countless lives. Hanukkah’s message carries a similar resonance: a small people faced a colossal empire and, through faith and courage, forged a miracle that resonates to this day.

All of this points to lasting lessons from Hanukkah. A sudden reversal can happen when all seems lost. Even the smallest light has the power to scatter thick darkness. Without unified determination, the Maccabees would never have secured their place in history, nor would Joseph have risen to counsel Pharaoh. Psalm 105 reminds us that Joseph did not end up in Egypt by chance; there was a higher purpose at work. These themes remain deeply relevant: even amidst modern threats, the stories of Joseph and the Maccabees encourage us to resist despair.

A humorous anecdote circulates about how the IDF supposedly reminded the Houthis of Hanukkah by “lighting” a couple of “candles” in Yemen’s capital, leaving the Houthis less than pleased. After all, Hanukkah had only just begun; if they insisted on playing the part of the ancient Greeks, there might be need for a few more “lights” in various parts of Yemen. “Ma’at min ha’or doche harbeh min ha’choshech,” indeed, even if this particular “illumination” sparks debate. There is no denying its ability to dispel darkness—especially when that darkness is aggressively imposed.

In the end, the playful notion of “lighting the skies” underscores Hanukkah’s enduring power: sometimes even enforced “lights” can brighten an entire region, albeit through questionable methods. True to the spirit of the holiday, we much prefer peaceful Hanukkah candles, remembering that its greatest strength lies in the spiritual light and the miracle that turns even the darkest hour into the first glow of a new dawn.