Chanukah is a time that brings us happiness and joy. Yet, this past week our Jewish world has faced tragedies – that is in the plural. Too many innocent lives have been cut short by terrorists in Sydney, Australia. Intentionally, during a Chanukah celebration.
As a broad and united community, we ask two resounding questions: Why? How can G-d allow this to happen!?
We might never be able to answer the questions. However, we can and should look into the holy words of the Torah for strength and encouragement.
In this week’s Torah portion we read a similar story, the story of Joseph and his brothers. Joseph has already become a vizier in Egypt and his brothers arrive in Egypt to buy food. Joseph, in an official capacity, tells his brothers that he will hold Shimon captive until they bring their youngest brother, Benjamin, back to Egypt with them. They approach Joseph to defend themselves against his actions. (At this point they don’t know that Joseph is their brother). While in Joseph’s presence, they argue amongst themselves as to what caused this tragedy to befall them. The brothers say, “Perhaps it is payback for what we have done to our brother Joseph, that we sold him as a slave, and now G-d is punishing us.” The result of this way of thinking was that they repented for their sin of selling Joseph into slavery and eventually circumstances turned, and it all worked out.
If we analyze this event in the Torah, we see that the tragedy in and of itself is terrible. The brothers had a choice as to how to respond: Should they blame others for their predicament or learn a lesson for themselves? They chose to do some soul searching. In this case, they felt that they might have been guilty, so they repented. However, even though not every time tragedy strikes are those involved guilty, a lesson can always be learned.
We are in the midst of the holiday of Chanukah. Chanukah is a time when we bring light into the world. Yes, it is true that with the loss of the fifteen beautiful souls the world became a much darker place, but the choice is ours: Do we add even more light to fight that darkness, or do we allow the darkness to permeate our lives?
If there is a lesson to take from the Torah portion and Chanukah it is this: The choice is ours. How do we want to see the world, through the prism of light or the prism of darkness? Do we want to do something to bring more light into the world by lighting the Chanukah candles, even through our tears? Or do we just give up hope?
My vote is to go along with the “tribes of Israel.” Look at the good, take stock of our lives, and become a Maccabee! Add some light! Do an extra Mitzvah in memory of the victims.
May we only know of happy occasions and many more Simchot in our community!
Shabbat Shalom and Happy Chanukah