In memory of my father, Avraham ben Chaim Reuven

Have you ever had one of those days?

A day in which everything feels impossible?

You may think “This is my limit. I can’t handle anything else.” 

In this week’s Parsha, Yosef reminds us that, even in our hardest times, we can notice the struggles of others…and maybe even help them.

Let’s set the scene. Yosef has been in a rough situation – to put it mildly – for over a decade. He’s been sold into slavery by his brothers, accused of a crime he didn’t commit, and has been sitting in an Egyptian prison for the last 12 years. 

Yet, despite all the pain and betrayal that Yosef has endured, he manages to notice the suffering of others. One morning, he notices that two of his fellow prisoners looked especially upset. 

Yosef asks them: ‘Why do you appear downcast today?'” (Genesis 40:6-7)

It is remarkable that Yosef is able to see beyond himself at this moment. It would have been understandable for him to either (a) not notice or (b) notice, but not have the energy to care. 

When a person has been through intense hardships, he can easily retreat into himself, consumed by his own pain. 

Yosef, however, allows his challenges to increase his capacity for empathy. He knows what it is to truly suffer, so he becomes more sensitive to the suffering of others.

While it may be counterintuitive, helping others while we ourselves are in pain can ease our own burden. Quite simply, it feels good to help others. It gives our lives meaning. And if our empathy – learned through our challenges – helps to ease someone else’s pain, then we can see some good in the challenges we have been through.

As we approach Chanukah, it is important to remember: offering a small amount of light can dispel a lot of darkness. 

And as the saying goes: “We cannot light a candle to brighten another’s path without also illuminating our own”.

Shabbat Shalom,

Danielle Altonaga and the JET Team