FOR VAYIGASH
APPROACHING THE LIGHT IN THE CORNER
It was the sixth night of Chanukah one year ago. I had landed at LaGuardia Airport in New York on time, around 2:00 p.m. I needed to get to Newark Airport, from where I would be participating in a Birthright trip to Israel with a group of around forty young adults. I also needed to kindle six lights in my Menorah for that evening.
The plan was simple: to head to Newark Airport in New Jersey, check in my luggage there, and head to my sister’s home. She lives about ten minutes from Newark airport. I figured that I would arrive at her house at four o’clock or so, which would be just in time to kindle the Menorah. I did not need to be in Newark before 6:30.
As I stepped towards the exit at LaGuardia, I paid attention to the options of getting to Newark. The cheapest method was to take a bus into Manhattan (“It takes no longer than a half hour.”), and from there another bus to Newark. (“That takes less than a half hour.”) For twelve bucks, I would be in Newark in less than an hour. It was a no-brainer.
I guess it was an actual “no-brainer” when we pulled into Manhattan close to five. I barely arrived in Newark at 6:30 – the time for all the Birthright participants to assemble to check in our luggage, meet all the participants for the first time, and so forth.
My plans to spend some time with my sister and her family went out the window. But that was not my biggest problem. The issue now was: what was I going to do about kindling the Menorah and its six lights?
Among the items in my hand luggage was a small plastic Menorah, some plastic cups filled with congealed olive oil, five matchsticks, and a little corner of the strike-strip torn off a matchbox upon which to rub the sulfur of the matches. I possessed the means. The challenge was the place. The Menorah was, without any question, going to be kindled on that night by me. But where in Newark airport could I do this?
Just as I was wondering about this dilemma, we were instructed as a group to move to the very end – and more quiet area – of the airport, where the airline routinely checks in groups. This was my signal. I noticed a little ledge at the window facing to the outside of the airport, and I headed there with my equipment. Without saying a word to any official, I made the following announcement to the startled-looking group: “Folks, tonight is the sixth night of Chanukah. Despite being in an airport, we are all still required to kindle the six lights of the Menorah. This will be done right here, in the airport, at this window!”
With that, I lit the Shamash, the igniter candle. I loudly and proudly sang the traditional singsong of the blessings, and proceeded to kindle all six wicks, creating the atmosphere of Chanukah right there, in Newark Airport. I stuck around for the required half hour, while the members of the group were all checking in. As the group members passed by, all taking pictures of this unusual and curious scene, I had plenty of ice-breaking time to acquaint myself with the group.
And I also had proof to show that, when Jewish law mandates and expects a person to perform a duty, there is a way for it to be done. As long as the commitment to perform is wholesome and complete, one will surely find a creative way to get it done.
Getting it done at all costs is the theme of the opening section of this week’s Torah portion, “Vayigash.” (B’raishis (Genesis) 44:18.) The portion picks up from the previous portion, whereby an unrecognizable Joseph torments his unsuspecting brothers, who are in Egypt to purchase food to survive a famine. Remembering their hatred towards him and how they sold him into slavery, Joseph wishes to bring out in his brothers not just feelings of regret, but a firm resolution to behave in the opposite manner.
Joseph orchestrates this by planting his “magical” goblet in the luggage of his youngest brother, Benjamin. When it is discovered, Joseph insists that Benjamin remain as a servant in his palace for this infraction. Judah, who has taken personal responsibility for returning Benjamin home, steps forward. He makes an impassioned plea to Joseph, essentially informing him that Benjamin is coming back with him regardless of the method and the means. This was more of a challenge than anything else. Having proved their commitment to one another, Joseph reveals his true identity, and asks his brothers to bring their father and move down to Egypt.
The question, though, begs to be asked: While the drama is riveting – there is no section of the Torah this spellbinding – it is really all a show! Joseph is leading his brothers on. The Torah spends an inordinate amount of time on their feelings and, uncharacteristically, it details all the passion and emotions displayed by Judah specifically in this week’s portion. At the end of the day, this all results from a game. It is not the reality. Why does the Torah spend so much space on this?
The opening word of the portion (which is also the name of the portion), “Vayigash,” answers this quandary. The word means, “and he approached.” This word, point out the Sages of the Talmud, is used in the Torah to imply several insinuations, one of which is prayer. (Others include appeasement, peace, and war.)
Judah was in trouble. His responsibility to his father, and to his G-d, was non-negotiable. Benjamin was coming back to the Holy Land with him, or he was going to die in his efforts to accomplish this. In his way was the second-in-command of the most powerful nation on earth. This was going to be complicated, difficult, and outright dangerous.
At the same time, this was going to happen regardless of the pitfalls.
And so Judah did “Vayigash.” He called out to the Almighty. He poured his heart out. He prayed, he connected. And he found the confidence to approach Joseph, the all-powerful viceroy of Egypt.
It is this mindset that the Torah is teaching with this story. When a situation presents itself with complications, even small and minimal ones, it is easy to be deterred, to give in. People tend to give up over the smallest of issues, such as what others will say, or how things may appear to be.
If a person determines, though, that the accomplishment must happen regardless of any other condition, one must be prepared to “Vayigash,” to approach with a prayer to the Almighty on one’s lips. That leads to determination in one’s heart, to get the thing done.
The extra space this story occupies teaches that, with determination, even a banal corner in a busy airport can become lit up with a sacred deed.
SUMMARY: With the connection to the Almighty, one can surely find a creative way to get things done, providing the commitment is wholesome and complete.