Shabbat Messages

This week we enter Parashat Vayeshev, a portion that begins the long and winding story of Joseph. It is a story filled with family tension, misunderstanding, and moments when darkness seems to have the upper hand. Joseph is thrown into a pit by his own brothers, sold away from everything he knows, and left to wonder if anyone will come to his aid. Yet even in that low place, something essential survives inside him. A spark. A sense of possibility. A belief that his story is not over.

That spark is the same one we prepare to honor as Chanukah arrives next week. We often focus on the oil that lasted beyond expectation, but our tradition teaches that the deeper miracle is the triumph of the human spirit. The Maccabees did not wait for a perfect moment. They lit the flame they had, trusting that courage and hope can create their own fuel. They believed that even the smallest light can push back a great deal of darkness.

In our own time, we know something about darkness. Our community cares deeply for the State of Israel, and we carry both heartbreak and pride as we witness her struggle to live in safety and dignity. We know the weight of rising antisemitism and hate, and we feel the urgency of standing together, speaking out, and refusing to let fear define our story. Yet we also know the strength of a community that shows up for one another, that prays together, learns together, and believes that Jewish life is worth celebrating and protecting.

This season invites us to see ourselves in both Joseph and the Maccabees. Like Joseph, we may find ourselves in moments of uncertainty, wondering how we will climb out of the pit. But like the Maccabees, we carry inside us a stubborn, holy resilience. We know how to keep going. We know how to fight for what is right. We know how to kindle light, not only for ourselves, but for the world around us.
Throughout all of our schools and across our camps, we teach our children that their spark matters. That who they are can add real light to this world. That Jewish identity is not a burden but a joy. That their love for Israel, their commitment to justice, and their belief in themselves can help shape a future brighter than what they see today.

So as we welcome Shabbat and prepare for Chanukah, may we remember that light grows when we choose to light it. May we stand strong in our unity, unwavering in our dedication to Israel, and fearless in confronting hate in our own city. And may we carry forward that quiet but powerful spark that has sustained our people from Joseph’s day to our own.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi David Eshel