WOW, WOW, WOW! Six days of light! It started Saturday night with a packed crowed downtown for a Havdalah & Menorah lighting ceremony with Senator Steve Daines, on to Sunday where the Yeshiva students visited homes in Three Forks, Manhattan and Belgrade, continuing on Monday with a Chanukah Wonderland at Southgate Mall in Missoula, visits to Montana State Hospital in Warm Springs, Anaconda and Butte and ending with a Menorah lighting at the Livingston Depot, moving on to Tuesday with a Menorah lighting at Rocky Mountain Bank in Billings and a lovely Chanukah Bash at our home with over seventy souls and on to Wednesday with visits to Great Falls and a MAJCO Menorah lighting in Helena with Governor Steve Bullock at the Capitol. This bright week wrapped up so joyfully last night with heartfelt dancing in Brooklyn as former Malmstrom Airman Yehouda Abecassis married his beloved Lieba Bard-Wigdor!
In this week’s Torah portion, Mikeitz, we read about how lonely/hurt/estranged Joseph transitions from longtime prisoner to viceroy of the Egyptian Empire. It’s a remarkable tale of perseverance and hope. In addition, Joseph remains an unwavering Jew, never forgetting his Hebrew language, his holy roots and his beloved father Jacob, who was back in Israel. Despite living in depraved Egypt, he teaches his sons Efraim and Menashe about their familial heritage and the importance of living a sacred lifestyle. When his brothers show up from Israel, during the middle eastern famine, seeking food, he immediately asks how their father is doing, even before identifying himself to them. Over two decades of separation didn’t extinguish the light of his soul, the connection to his people, as it miraculously continued to glow.
I meet Joseph’s all over Montana.
Chavie and I have been living in Bozeman for almost a decade now, and we constantly see, that, like the Chanukah Menorah, the light of the Jewish soul is bright and increases it brightness every day. For many it’s been years, or even decades, since they last observed certain Mitzvos or went to Shul, “Rabbi I can’t recall the last time I lit Shabbat candles”, yet when delicately reminded of their radiant soul, they experience a genuine resurgence. When you witness a ninety-seven-year-old Holocaust survivor joyfully lighting the Menorah on the same day that a five-year-old dresses up like Judah the Maccabee, you know that Am Yisroel Chai, you know that, like Joseph, we don’t only survive despite the spiritual challenges but the darkness itself incentivizes us to remain strong and create even more light.
“Out of touch”, doesn’t equal “connection lost”!
May G-d guard our brethren in Israel and the world over from harm and send us Moshiach speedily. May He protect the armed forces of Israel and the United States wherever they may be. Shabbat Shalom! Chazak!!! L'Chaim!!!