The Malbim teaches that if it were not for the course of events in this week's parashah, B'nei Yisrael would never have gone down to Egypt. Yaakov was pretty well set in Eretz Yisrael. But God told Avraham that his children were going to dwell in a strange land (i.e., Egypt) for four hundred years. In other words we were getting down there one way or another.
This parashah spells out for us the course of events which took place in our nations descent down into Egpyt. What an auspicious timing of events! I must say, there really is no better time to be learning and thinking about a descent into darkness! After all, this is the darkest time of the year. Not only that, but that's exactly why we have Chanukkah.
Chanukah comes to us when we need it the most, in the darkest time, in the darkest place. Even the mitzvah of the holiday revolves around darkness. We are told to light the menorah at no more than 10 handbreadths above the floor. The Talmud in tractate Sukkah tells us that the divine presence does not dwell below 10 handbreadths. If that's the case, then why in the world are we lighting down there?! Chanukah comes along to tell us: guess what, really, really even down there you gotta find God! Even when things are the darkest of the dark, the lowest of the low, there may still be illumination.
And as God tells Avraham, "they will go down", so too must we. We must light below 10 handbreadths. In order to light below 10 handbreadths, you have to go down there. You can't do it if you're still 'up there'. The world needs to know that the light of godliness is found in every nook and cranny of the world. We need to, each and every one of us that this is the case of well. Perfectly timed, the parashah tells us, we must go down to Egypt; but coupled with Chanukah we are comforted by knowing that it's alright, even in the dark places we can find light.
According to Chassidim, this is the real last chance for tshuva, for returning to God. Yom Kippur was a long time ago. This is the time to face the fear of darkness, the darkness in the world and the darkness in ourselves. We must go down there, into the fear, into the darkness, into Egypt and say, 'it's fine because I know that God is with me there too.' Happy Chanukah!
It's Time to Get Loooooow!!
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Hillel Zeren is a psychologist, specializing in narrative therapy and testing for learning disabilities. He works in the Israeli school system as well as maintaining a private practice. He lives in Bat Ayin with his wife, Esther, and their four children. He is a member of the board of the Yeshiva.