This week’s Torah portion describes a dream Joseph had, in which he and his brothers were collecting grain stalks in the field and binding them into sheaves.
In addition to the many explanations for this incident in the Torah commentaries, one that stands out is that the field, the outdoors, represents the world “outside,” away from a Jew’s comfort zone, and Joseph and his brothers were collecting the “sparks” of holiness that may have been lost there at the time of Creation.
G-d created the world in a way that holiness is concealed everywhere, and our job is to uncover and elevate those sparks back to their original source. You can’t find these sparks by staying inside, in the comfort of your home. You need to go out and bring the light of Torah and Judaism to the furthest reaches of the universe; only then will the sparks be returned to where they belong.
This is also the message of Chanukah, which began Thursday night. We light the menorah outdoors—either at a window or a doorpost—and specifically at night, symbolizing the job of every Jew to light up the night!
Join us for our Chanukah celebrations and menorah lighting on Sunday in Taipei and, for the first time ever(!), on Wednesday in Kaohsiung. (Click for google maps directions link).
Shabbat shalom and happy Chanukah!
Rabbi Shlomi Tabib
