Every year, Chanukah falls between the two parashot Vayeishev and Mi'ketz. These parashot tell the story of Yosef, from his being sold into slavery until his rise to power as viceroy of Egypt. A closer look at Yosef's journey sheds light on the true essence of Chanukah. The pasuk states the Yosef was thrown into a pit and emphasizes the fact that it did not have any water in it. Why does the pasuk reiterate the fact that it had no water in it, is it not obvious that if it was empty it did not have any water? Chazal (Masechet Shabbat 22a) offer the following explanation. Although the pit was dry it was not empty, it was filled with snakes and scorpions.

The simple explanation of this statement is that Yosef was placed in physical danger. However, one could find a deeper more spiritual explanation. When placed in the pit, Yosef was not only in physical danger, he was also jeopardized spiritually. The pit severed Yosef's ties to his father and mentor, thereby separating him from his connection to Avodat Hashem, preventing him from growing and elevating spiritually. Therefore, Chazal stress the fact that the pit was not altogether empty. The lack of water and spiritual life source created a vacuum filling it with destructive and harmful forces, snakes and scorpions. Although he was influenced by these harmful forces, Yosef eventually emerged triumphant, retaining his title as one of the Shivtey Yisrael.

The story of Chanukah parallels the saga of Yosef. The Greeks understood that in order to spiritually break the Jews they did NOT need to force them to serve Avodah Zara. All they really needed to do was disconnect them from their spiritual source creating an automatic vacuum filling them with evil. This is the essence of Chanukah. In order for a Jew to succeed in a "Greek world", he has to continuously work and advance in his Avodat Hashem, not leaving any opportunity for "snakes and scorpions" to penetrate.

May Hashem grant us the wisdom to survive the pit and fill it with Torat Mayim Chayim.

Shabbat Shalom and Chanukah Sameach!