In this week's Torah portion we read about the story Yosef who was sold into slavery, eventually imprisoned and had unimaginable suffering. The Ramchal explains that this string of suffering which both Yosef and his father Yaakov (who thought that Yosef was killed) endured, was in order to allow Yosef to become the viceroy in Egypt which paved the way for the sustenance of Yaakov and his entire family during the time of famine. The Ramchal says that this serves as an example of any case where Hashem wants to uplift a person or the Jewish Nation, He does so through hidden means in which everything looks dark and dim. It is through these periods of darkness that we must have steadfast trust in G-d that He is orchestrating the best outcome for us.

Sunday night we will begin G-d Willing Chanukah which is a time of great miracles. Mattisyahu and his sons stood up for the Jewish Nation against the mighty Greek Army and defeated them. We all know the story but we shouldn't relate to it as some fantasy or fairy-tail, G-d Forbid. This was a true story which really happened. It is something we must contemplate and internalize. Imagine today a few weak yeshiva students fighting against the US Army, could we imagine that these yeshiva students would be victorious? But Mattisyahu and his sons had complete faith and trust in G-d, they knew that they were not fighting the battle but that G-d was fighting the battle. As we go through life and face the challenges and hardships that come about, we need to draw upon that same faith and trust in G-d. He is orchestrating everything from above, He is fighting our battles and He is directing everything for our ultimate good.

Mazel Tov- as we Baruch Hashem, merited a sixth child, a healthy baby boy, Shmuel Yitzchak (Bris was today).

May we all share simchas together.

Shabbat Shalom,

Heath