An interesting theme emerges each year, as Chanukah coincides with Parshat Vayeshev. As a result of Yosef’s dreams, the underlying competition between the brothers surfaces. They vie for the coveted position which represents the love and approval of their father and the corresponding position of power within the nation.
The Torah tells us that Yosef was a בן זקונים, the son of his father’s old age. Onkeles translates this as בר חכים, the wise son. Yaakov favors Yosef for a variety of emotional reasons, but he treasures the Mesorah
relationship most. While he celebrates Yehuda’s as the future king, he grooms Yosef, for the role of Rosh Yeshiva and transmits the most advanced Torah knowledge to him.
For this very reason, the brothers see Yosef’s dreams as an existential threat. The bowing sheaves of wheat represent Yosef’s economic dominance. The subordination of the sun, moon and stars represents his aspiration towards spiritual supremacy as well. Yosef aspires
to the proverbial “whole pie”. The dreams ultimately become a reality when Yosef confronts his brothers. Once Yehuda offers himself as slave in place of Binyoman, a tentative truce is established between the son of Rachel, monarch of the nation in exile, and the son of Leah, king of Israel proper. This power struggle plays out during the times of the prophets as well, between Yehuda and Ephraim.
Interestingly, the very first king of Israel is from the tribe of Levi.
וַיְהִ֥י בִישֻׁר֖וּן מֶ֑לֶךְ בְּהִתְאַסֵּף֙ רָ֣אשֵׁי עָ֔ם יַ֖חַד שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃(דברים לג: ה)
There was in Jeshurun a king, When the heads of the people assembled, The tribes of Israel together.
Ibn Ezra explains that this refers to Moshe, whose kingship resulted primarily from his transmission of Torah. This is consistent with the role of the tribe of Levi since the teaching of Torah was entrusted to them. Which brings us to Chanukah….
The Rambam, in Hilchot Chanukah (פרק א:א) tells us that the Hasmonean great priests won victories and saved Israel from the Syrian Greeks. They set up a king from among the priests
and Israel's kingdom was restored for a period of more than two centuries, until the destruction of the second Temple. Clearly, legitimate leadership can emerge from different sources under varying circumstances, as long as this expression of courage is dedicated appropriately for the sake of the nation. (The Rambam, unlike the Ramban, does not criticize this kingship.)
This is consistent with Yaakov’s message, at the conclusion of his blessings to his sons.
כָּל אֵלֶּה שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר וְזֹאת אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר לָהֶם אֲבִיהֶם וַיְבָרֶךְ אוֹתָם אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר כְּבִרְכָתוֹ בֵּרַךְ אֹתָם
All these are the tribes of Israel, twelve, and this is what their father told them and he blessed them, each man according to his blessing, he blessed them (Bereishit: 49:28).
Yaakov blessed all of them according to the blessings of each individual. He was, in effect, teaching his sons and his future nation that no one has a monopoly on character. We should study all the aspects of human perfection exemplified by the brothers and strive to incorporate them into our lives appropriately.
Leadership at Sha’arei Bina emerges from self-confidence, courage and a keen sense of responsibility for others. It has many faces and expressions. The hybrid theme of Vayeshev and Chanukah encourages each of our students to exercise her unique leadership qualities
appropriately, to the benefit of herself, her family and כלל ישראל.
Happy Chanukkah!
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