Vayeshev Ya’akov” – “And Jacob settled.”
Our parashah opens with what seems to be a desire for stability after years of turmoil. The sages teach in Bereishit Rabbah 84:3 that Tzaddikim seek to dwell in peace, but the Holy One, Blessed be He, says: Is it not enough for them what awaits them in the World to Come that they also seek peace in this world? In other words, spiritual growth often emerges precisely when life is unsettled.
Vayeshev quickly descends into darkness: Joseph’s dreams provoke jealousy, his brothers conspire against him, and he is cast into a pit described as “empty, without water” (Gen. 37:24). The Talmud in Shabbat 22a reads this phrase symbolically: without water, but full of snakes and scorpions. The biblical pit becomes a metaphor for situations in which hope feels absent and danger feels close.
Yet this is not a story of despair. Joseph’s journey from betrayal to leadership reveals a profound truth: light can emerge even from the deepest darkness, and often in ways we cannot foresee. Joseph’s descent into Egypt lays the groundwork for the entire future of the Jewish people.
We live in a moment when many feel as though they, too, have been thrown into a pit, caught between global uncertainty, rising antisemitism, and emotional or financial pressures close to home. Feelings of instability, division, and helplessness can mirror Joseph’s experience.
But Vayeshev reminds us that even when humans act out of jealousy, rage, or fear, the possibility of redemption remains alive. The Torah notes that Reuben tried to save Joseph and that Judah ultimately prevented his death. Even small acts of conscience and humanity can redirect the entire story.
In our world today, every act of kindness, solidarity, and compassion matters. Standing with someone who feels isolated, speaking against prejudice, or offering support in times of crisis are the modern equivalents of lifting someone from the pit.
This year, as we read Vayeshev, we stand on the threshold of Chanukah, our festival of defiant light. The Talmud in Shabbat 21b describes the mitzvah of Chanukah as pirsumei nisa, publicising the miracle. But the miracle was not only the oil; it was the courage to kindle light at all while surrounded by darkness, danger, and uncertainty.
Joseph’s story echoes this theme. In the pit, in captivity, and in prison, Joseph never extinguishes his inner light, his integrity, his dreams, and his connection to HaShem. He becomes, in a sense, a Chanukah candle, a small flame that ultimately spreads illumination far beyond itself.
Both Vayeshev and Chanukah teach that light does not wait for perfect conditions. It is kindled because the world needs it most.
As we prepare to light the Chanukah candles, we are invited to ask ourselves where we have found the strength to climb out of difficult moments this year, where we can bring light to someone still struggling, and how we can turn our personal trials into future blessings as Joseph did.
May this week inspire us to bring hope into places of despair, unity into places of division, and light into every corner of our lives.