Parshas Mikeitz (Chanukah) 5786
- Torah Tavlin
- Dec 19, 2025
- 2 min read
וליוסף ילד שני בנים בטרם תבוא שנת הרעב אשר ילדה לו אסנת בת פוטי פרע כהן און ... (מא-נ)
Yosef needed a suitable wife, an elusive thing in Mitzrayim. Ultimately he married Osnas. Who was she? Pirkei D’Rebbi Eliezer explains that when Dina was abducted and assaulted by Shechem, a child was born and she was called Osnas. Disgusted, the Shevatim wanted her killed, but instead, Yaakov placed a tzitz engraved with the Shem Hashem around her neck and sent her away. Malach Michoel transported her to Egypt and left her at Potifar’s door who raised her as his own daughter.
When Leah was pregnant with her seventh child, Rachel was still childless. Knowing that Yaakov would only have twelve Shevatim, she selflessly davened to Hashem for her fetus to be a girl so Rachel can at least have as many children as Bilha and Zilpa. Hashem listened to her pleas and Dina was born. An unbelievable act of ויתור and kindness on Leah’s part. Her reward was that in the end she merited to have the zechus of additional shevatim. The Medrash writes that Dina’s daughter Osnas, who was sent to Egypt, convinced Potifar not to kill Yosef after hearing his wife’s claims, and she later married Yosef and gave birth to Menashe and Ephraim. The lesson is that by being מוותר, Leah was responsible for an additional two Shevatim!
However, I would like to suggest a different nekuda. We pasken that if the neiros of the Menorah go out, they are not rekindled even though Pirsumei Nisa is a major factor on Chanukah. The Bnei Yissaschar explains that this teaches us a great lesson: a person is only required to do his part and Hashem will do the rest. We are commanded to light the licht, but we should leave the continuous neis of the flame to come from Heaven, the Yad Hashem. Interestingly, the Dreidel is held from the top, because wherever we may land in life, it all begins with a connection to Hashem above. This is the lesson of Chanukah, and this was Leah’s tremendous mitzvah. She knew the right thing was to be sensitive to her sister and whatever happened afterward wasn’t her concern. It was all up to Hashem. We can’t make decisions based on what will happen, rather they should be based on what Hashem wants, and what the proper thing to do is. Do your part and let Hashem keep the fire burning.