YOSEF & CHANUKAH
The Torah says of Yosef, (Breishit 39:4): “Va’yimtza Yosef chen – Yosef found favor in Potifar’s eyes.” And then when Paroh appointed him as viceroy it states, “Va’yalbesh oto bigdei shesh - he dressed him in garments of fine linen” (41:42). When Yosef was sold to Yishmaelim he was sold, “b’esrim kesef – for twenty pieces of silver.”
The Gemara explains that because Yosef made a Kidush Hashem when Potifar’s wife attempted to seduce him in the privacy of her own home, he merited that the letter “Hei (ה)” should be added to his name later on just as it states in Sefer Tehilim (81): “Edut be’yehosef samo – He made a testimony for Yosef.”
If we take the chen (חן) he found in Potifar’s eyes and add it to the garments Paroh made him wear (va’yalbesh [ו]), plus the 20 (כ) pieces of silver he was sold for - plus the letter “Hei (ה)” that was added to his name – we see the word Chanukah (חנוכה).
This is found in Parshat Vayeshev and Miketz. Therefore, we see a hint of Chanukah in the Torah and in Yosef Ha’tzadik (a”h).
CHANUKAH IN THE ALEF-BET
The entire Alef-Bet provides a clue to Chanukah and some of its major laws.
(ח - א ) If you add the letters Alef through Chet the total will be, 36.
These are the number of candles we light on Chanukah not including the Shamash.
(ט) The letter “Tet” hints to the Menorah which should be placed less than 10 tefachim from the ground; hence the number 9.
(כ , י ) The letters “Yud and Chaf” represent the other Rabbinical authorities who maintain that 10 tefachim or more, up to 20 is also considered kosher.
( פ - ל ) The letters “Lamed through Peh” represent the following halachic ruling: “Lemaalah Me’esrim, Ner, Sukah, Eiruv, Pesulah – if it is above 20 amot then a Ner, a Sukah, and an Eiruv are considered invalid.”
( ת - צ ) Finally, the letters “Tzadi through Tav teach the following verse: “Tzorech Kedushah Ra’u Shamash Tosif – due the holiness of the candles which may not be used for personal needs, the Shamash was added.”
