When Safety Feels Temporary – Mikeitz

When things are going well in my life, there is often a small voice that asks how long it will last. Not only when thinking about my day to day, but also about the safety I feel simply being able to live openly as a Jew. Part of that sense of security comes from growing up in America, where safety was something I rarely questioned. Lately, that feeling has started to shift as acts of hatred toward Jews continue to surface across the world. I still go about my day and I still feel grateful for what I have, but there is an awareness in the background that things can change. I try to stay present, because once I start worrying about what comes next, the good moments pass without being felt.

In this week’s parsha, Mikeitz, things are actually going well. We read about years of plenty. At the same time, the Torah makes it clear that those years will not last forever. Yosef understands this. He does not panic about what is coming, and he does not get carried away by how good things feel. He enjoys the good years, but he also uses them to plan for what comes next.

I think there is a balance between worrying about what may happen in the future and enjoying what we already have. We cannot predict the future, and there is only so much preparation we can do. The rest of the work is learning how to live fully in the moment without ignoring reality, holding gratitude and awareness at the same time. As we light the Chanukah candles, the direction forward feels simple. Take this moment to be visible and bring light into our homes and into the world. Even while the future feels uncertain, we have this moment, and we should use it, just like Yosef did.

Good Shabbos,

All the best,

Avroham Ross