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Torah Tidbits

19 May 2013 / 10 Sivan 5773

Issue 983

Issue 983- Shabbat Parshat Vayigash

December 29, 2011

Lead Tidbits

Aliya-by-Aliya Sedra Summary

Aliya by Aliya Sedra Summary

The sedra begins with the dramatic confrontation between Yehuda and Yosef. Yehuda risks his life when he approaches the “Egyptian leader” in an attempt to save Binyamin. The first Aliya ends with the emotion-filled description by Yehuda of the feelings between Yaakov and Binyamin - “V’nafsho k’shura v’nafsho”, and his soul is bound with his soul.

Sedra Stats

Mikeitz Stats

11th of 54 sedras;
11th of 12 in B’reishit
Written on 178.07 lines in a Torah, ranks 34

Lead Tidbit

A Brief Look Back at Chanuka

By Phil Chernofsky

It always bothered me that Chanuka is 8 days long because a one-day supply of oil miraculously lasted for 8 days. The miracle of the oil did not seem enough of a reason for our Sages to declare an 8-day holiday. Chanuka could have been one day - like Purim - with, perhaps, the mitzva to light 8 candles in commemoration of the miracle. Or it could have been 7 days, like Pesach and Sukkot - the Biblical precedents for long holidays. Or it could have been 12 days long to match the span of days that the Tribal Leaders brought their gifts to the new Mishkan - as we read in the Torah throughout Chanuka. We do not have a rule in Judaism that the length of a declared holiday must match part of the story of the events that led to the holiday. We sing that B’NEI VINA, Y’MEI SH’MONA, KAV’U… Men of deep understanding established the holiday at 8 days. Where’s the deep understanding that brought about our beloved 8-day Chanuka.

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