Shabbat. Parashat Miketz. Hanukkah.

Some disputes never end.
They pass from generation to generation.

The clash between Joseph and his brothers is one of them.
It's not about the past, but about living in a world that isn't always about you.

One path: close off.
Stick to your own. Less contact, less influence, less risk.

The other: dive in.
Work, influence, speak the world's language—
but never lose yourself.

Both paths are tough.
Both can lead to mistakes.

Hanukkah isn't just about the Greeks.
It's about the inner choice.

Assimilation doesn't start with changing clothes or language.
It begins when you stop feeling what's truly important to you.

Sometimes from the outside world.
Sometimes from the "right environment"—
where the form stays, but living meaning fades.

That's why Hanukkah starts with inner conflict.
The real war is inside us.

Hanukkah ties to "chinuch"—education, dedication.
Not just of children—but first, of ourselves [web:7][web:10].

What do I let into my soul daily?
What values shape my choices?
What lights my inner flame?

Shabbat is time to pause and feel it honestly.
No self-flagellation. No excuses.

Each of us has our light.
It doesn't need to match others'.
But it must burn alive.

Joseph didn't understand his path for years.
Insight came later.
His bond with the Creator was always there.

Sometimes, just holding it is enough.

Like silent prayer at the Wall—connecting to that eternal light amid inner storms.

Shabbat Shalom.
Chodesh Tov.
Hanukkah Sameach.

P.S. Explore daily practices to keep your inner light: "Meditation and Prayer at the Western Wall: A Spiritual Guide for All Humanity" (ASIN: B0G5G9RWQL). Link in bio.