By Rabbi Haim Jachter | December 10, 2020
There are no coincidences in Jewish life. Our reading the stories of Yosef and his brothers on Shabbat Chanukah is not an accident. We believe that the Kri’at HaTorah of Shabbat Chanukah hints at Chanukah’s hidden dark side.
Sadly, the Hasmonean revolt against the Syrian-Greeks involved a bitter civil war. The Maccabim battled not only the Yevanim but also the Mityavnim, the Jews who chose to assimilate into Greek culture. This tragic but unavoidable confrontation is echoed by the fight between Yosef and his brothers. The painful parallels between these horrifying events are too miserable for us to articulate. It is therefore reduced to a subtle hint.