A PIT FULL OF WATER

Dear Family,

I hope that everyone is well.

Mazal Tov to Naomi on her upcoming birthday. Wishing you a great year with many celebrations Naomi!

Mazal Tov to Liora on her birthday on Rosh Chodesh. Wishing you success in all your activities and studies with much happiness, Liora.

Wishing Claude and Joy long life on the yohrtzeit of Gregg ah, on the second day of Chanukah. His neshamah should have an Aliyah, and you should have only occasions to celebrate.

Happy Chanukah to all for tonight!

I saw a nice sichah from the Rebbe this week on Parsha Vayeshev, which also showed its connection to Chanukah, based on the verse 37:24, that Yosef's brother's threw him into a "pit which was empty, and had no water."

Torah and water

So the question is, why does Torah add the extra words, that there was NO WATER? Surely if it was empty, it is self-understood that there was no water?

So the Gemorra (Shabbos 22a) explains that it comes to teach us that there was no water, but there were snakes and scorpions.

The deeper meaning from our Sages is that water is referring to Torah.

And that when a person is devoid of Torah, 'water', then 'snakes and scorpions' (ie things which oppose and fight against holiness) will automatically be there. There is no middle ground.

And, Just as water descends from a high to a low place, so too Torah only flows to a 'low place' ie a person who is HUMBLE.

This is because Torah is the infinite essence of Hashem's mind.

And for a limited human mind to become connected to the essence and mind of Hashem, it has to relinquish its ego. Otherwise the persons ego and intellect interpose between the infinite and the finite.

And if no 'water' (Torah) can enter the 'pit', (the person), then automatically there will be 'snakes and scorpions', harmful elements that oppose the presence of G-d.

Torah and oil

The above discussion took place in the section of Gemora also discussing Chanukah, and therefore there must be a link.

Also, Chanukah usually falls at the same time as our Sedra, Vayeshev. (as is this year)

The Greeks wanted to make the Jewish People 'forget Your Torah', meaning the Essence of G-d within Torah.

The miracle of the cruse of pure olive oil of Chanukah alludes to this untarnished Essence of the Torah.

And the Jewish People were able to safeguard this 'oil', despite the pressures of Greek Hellenism, through their battle.

Wishing everyone a Gut Chanukah and a Gut Shabbos, with much light, allowing our beings to be filled with Torah.