The 8-day long holiday of Chanukah will always include a Shabbat, and the parsha read on that Shabbat is either Vayeshev or Mikeitz. This is no coincidence of calendars, but a deep-rooted connection between the drama, the dream-interpreter, Yosef, and the miracles of Chanukah. There are many connections between the two stories - see how many you can come up with!

One connection that Rabbi Avigdor Nevenzahl (Chief Rabbi of the Old City of Jerusalem) notes is that both Yosef and our Sages believed that publicizing the miracles they each witnessed was a religious imperative. How can we see this in each story? 

In this week's Parsha, Mikeitz, Pharaoh summons Yosef from prison to help interpret some puzzling dreams. Yosef protests, declaring "it is Hashem who will give Pharaoh an answer." Yosef refuses to take any personal credit for his incredible abilities to understand this dreams, but insists on publicly claiming that Hashem is the one who gives him the answers. Indeed, Yosef - the only monotheist in a deeply idolatrous country - mentions Hashem no less than 4 times in his dialogue with Pharaoh! Yosef clearly understands that Hashem has miraculously enabled him to interpret dreams and feels compelled to teach the Eqyptian king this fact. 

Our Sages also recognized how important it is for Jews to teach the world around them of Hashem and His miracles. The mitzvah of lighting the Chanukiyah in a window (i.e., visible to the public) is for this express purpose of Pirsumei Nisa, publicizing the miracles of Chanukah. Just like Yosef, our Sages believed it was critically important to teach the world that no act is beyond Hashem's miraculous reach, and formalized this belief by making Pirsumei Nisa a halachic (legal) requirement to fulfill the mitzvah of lighting Chanukah candles.

Our hope is that this Shabbat Chanukah/Parshat Mikeitz reminds us to look for the miracles Hashem does for us every day, and boldly share Hashem's greatness with the world.

Shabbat Shalom and Chanukah Sameach!