The Torah discusses receiving the Torah in two different parshios. In the previous parsha, Yisro, Moshe returns with Hashem’s offer to give us the Torah and with that acceptance we merited that the Torah was given to us on Mt. Sinai. However, at the end of this parsha certain offerings are sacrificed, blood that was collected is scattered upon the people and they had already been circumcised prior to their encampment at the mountain.
Moshe had two sons Gershom and Eliezer. Gershom was named for Moshe’s seclusion when he was a stranger in a foreign land, Midian. The name Eliezer alluded to Moshe’s miraculous escape from Pharoah’s executioner. Even though he was slated to die Hashem protected him and he was able to get away to Midian
Ibn Ezra questions why was there a fear that if the people leave Egypt and travel though the land of the Philistines then they may encounter a combat situation and return to Egypt. The amount of able-bodied men was 600,000 and many more and they were also armed.
Moshe was the emissary of Hashem to approach Pharoah and demand that he release the nation from its bondage. However, when he speaks with him he adds how long will it be until you humble yourself in front of Hashem. That additional message seemingly has no connection to the mandate the he release the people.
Although Moshe complained to Hashem that the people were suffering terribly under Pharoah’s enslavement, his concern was that the nation was undergoing pain and agony that was too much. He was reprimanded for his protest and Hashem explained to him the process which they were going through. The original covenant, the pact Hashem had made with Avrohom hundreds of years earlier was now to be fulfilled.
The Torah enumerates the total count of the nation when they arrived in Egypt. Then we are reminded that Yosef was in Egypt. Rashi explains that the Torah is emphasizing that Yosef withstood all the difficulties which the culture presented him with. They were a nation deeply entrenched in immorality. Additionally, we know that the wife of Potiphar went to great lengths to seduce Yosef.
After the nation settled in Goshen Yaakov lived out the remainder of his life there. The parsha is written in such a fashion as to indicate that it is disconnected from the previous parsha. Rashi cites the Midrash that this alludes to the lack of perception that befell the people after Yaakov’s death as the encumbrance of the impending exile began to impact them.
After much trial and travail, finally the truth was told and the viceroy of Egypt was none other than Yosef, their long lost brother. They were taken aback by this twist and unable to utter a word due to their incredulity and astonishment. Then Yosef tosses out the elephant in the room and declares that yes I am your brother Yosef whom you sold into slavery.
As we near the end of this wonderful Yom Tov of Chanukah what will we take with us? After the last lights go out we will be left in the darkness or can we carry the torch further and embrace our future with brightness?
Chanukah is right around the corner and perhaps we need to somewhat meditate and consider what Chanukah is all about, how we should approach this wonderful Yom Tov and explore what it is that we anticipate to gain. As we know after the small Hasmonean army defeated the powerful Greeks, they began to search for oil to light the Menorah.