Mikketz – Gen. 41:1-44:17 (Dec. 27/28)

December 28, 2019

As the Torah Turns

Rabbi Lader’s Weekly D’var Torah

Mikketz – Gen. 41:1-44:17 (Dec. 27/28)

Our Torah portion this week is Mikketz – Gen. 41:1-44:17 – and continues the story of Joseph in Egypt. It is Pharaoh who has dreamed frightening dreams and it is Joseph who is called upon from the depths of his imprisonment, cleaned up, and brought to Pharaoh to interpret his dreams. In The Fire Waits, his collection of poetry linked to the weekly Torah portion, Rabbi Michael Hecht z”l wrote: … Only Joseph knows the answer: “Pharoah, do not fear the future. I have had my dreams like you. Yours is not a nightmare, if you will not have it so. God has given you the power to thwart nightmares. “Make the future happen. Do not succumb to your bad dreams. That is God’s message to Pharaoh.” … Strengthen us against [our nightmares]. Let them not rule us. Put our dreams into our hands. Help us make [them] false. Save us from inaction. Let us be the masters of our dreams.

This Shabbat features the growing light of our menorahs, the light of our Shabbat candles, and the first sliver of the new moon of Tevet. This Shabbat is filled with light that grows brighter and fuller, bringing light into darkness. May that light be reflected in each of us, giving us strength and courage to act beyond our darkest dreams, and to bring that growing (and glowing) light into our world.