Miketz opens with Joseph rising from the darkness of prison to great light, while Hanukkah celebrates the end of darkness with the Maccabean rise to power.
“And at the end of two years, Pharaoh dreamed... and behold, seven ears of corn came up on one stalk, plump and good” (Gen 41:1, 5).
Many are the interpretations of those simple phrases “at the end of two years” and “on one stalk.”
The Ba’al ha-Turim notes that the phrase bekaneh echad (“on one branch or stalk”) occurs only three times in the entire Tanach. The first two times are in this verse and in Gen. 41:22, when Pharaoh relates his dreams to Joseph. The third time is in the description of how Bezalel constructed the menorah for the Mishkan:
“He made the menorah of pure gold... six branches emerging from its sides, three branches of the menorah on its one side and three branches of the menorah on its other side, three cups engraved like almonds, on one branch [bekaneh echad]” (Exodus 37:17-19).
“This,” the Baal ha-Turim expounds, “is because plenty brings light to the world; therefore, Pharaoh saw the good ears of grain ‘on one branch,’ whereas the scorched ears of grain he did not see on one branch.” Just as the plentiful harvest gives life to the world, so too does the menorah, whose restoration in the Holy Temple we celebrate in these days of Hanukkah.
The Sfat Emet (the Gerre Rebbe) takes up the phrase “two years” (shnatayim yamim) and writes that these “two years” are favorable times, such as Shabbat and Hanukkah, which fight the forces of darkness with light. The light of Shabbat, he says, elevates us, grants us respite from darkness, and gives us light and energy to overcome Pharaoh (the forces of the side of evil). Just as the light of Shabbat seeps into the weeks, so too can the light of Hanukkah light up the coming year. According to the Sfat Emet, our ancient sages established for us the lights of Hanukkah not only so that we should have energy to fight against evil with light but also that we should be victorious.
The Torah portion Miketz is read during Hanukkah most years; this year, it is read just as Hanukkah ends. Miketz opens with Joseph rising from the darkness of prison to great light, while Hanukkah celebrates the end of darkness with the Maccabean rise to power.