Please note that the posts on The Blogs are contributed by third parties. The opinions, facts and any media content in them are presented solely by the authors, and neither The Times of Israel nor its partners assume any responsibility for them. Please contact us in case of abuse. In case of abuse,
Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, Z”L had a very special custom. Shortly after a relative, friend or close student would move into a new home, he would ask to visit. Although he would only stay for a few minutes, R’ Shlomo Zalman made sure to walk through the entire apartment.
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.