Dear Friends,
Mitketz is such a tumultuous Torah portion. Dreams abound. Plans are fomented. Hopes are fulfilled or dashed, depending on the circumstances. And all of this comes on the heels of Chanukah – the Festival of Lights – the holiday that speaks to our resilience in the face of whatever tumult surrounds us.
What message stays with us after Chanukah is over?
For me, it is a sense that we must stay grounded in the present, even as we look toward the future. We must remember that each and every day of life is a precious gift from God. As we recited in Hallel in our prayers each morning throughout the eight days of Chanukah:
“Ze haYom Asa Adonai, NaGila v’nism’cha vo [This is the day that God made, let us rejoice in this day].”
For all the tumult that surrounds us, let us not forget to give thanks for each day and for the blessings it presents to us. Gratitude. That’s the message of Chanukah and it is all the more important when the festive celebration is over.
Thank you to all who participated in our various wonderful Chanukah services and programs and to all who assisted in planning them, in organizing them, and in making them so successful. I am so grateful for all of you!
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Gilah Dror
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