Parasha Miketz

Everything happens for a reason. If you don’t think so, just ask Solomon Radasky.

Solomon Radasky is from Warsaw. He is a furrier who made fur coats for a living. He has strived to live out his Jewish faith through obedience and heartfelt devotion. When the Warsaw uprising began during World War Two, Solomon was outside of the city and not allowed to return. He was shot in the ankle, captured by the Germans, and taken along with 20,000 other Hebrews by train to the Treblinka concentration camp. Here at Treblinka 10,000 Jews could be exterminated in one day.

Of the 20,000 captured that day Solomon was part of the second 10,000 that would be killed next. Somehow though, they were spared. This 10,000 would be sent to a work site where they were all issued striped clothes and wooden shoes. At this work site an older Hebrew man operated on Solomon’s ankle wound with a rusty old pocketknife. Just the fact that a Jew held hostage by the Nazis still had a pocketknife was a miracle. This operation of sorts wasn’t safe, but it was all that could or would be done to the injury. The ex-doctor told Solomon to use his urination as an anti-biotic to fight against infection. Solomon also had to hide his pain. If the Germans knew he was injured they would execute him on the spot. They wanted healthy workers at this fieldwork site. With his injured ankle Solomon and the others would walk 3 kilometers each day back and forth to work. The Nazis made them take off their shoes and walk barefoot over briars, glass, and the like.

It came to pass one day that as Solomon and the others were walking back to camp one of the Jews lit a cigarette. This infuriated the German overseer who then said that the guilty smoker would either confess or 10 “dogs” would die. The Germans called the Jews “dogs” and of course no one spoke up to claim the smoke. Solomon was one of the “dogs” who were chosen to be murdered there on the spot. Before being executed the ten were brutally beaten and then prepared to be hung. With a noose around his neck Solomon prepared to meet his Maker. The end of the torture had finally come. Death was knocking at his door again.

Then, all of a sudden the execution was halted as a senior officer claimed he had to take a large portion of the group to Auschwitz. He could not take dead Jews to the concentration camp. So Solomon’s life was spared another time. The train ride to Auschwitz was two long nights and a day without food or water. The group arrived at Auschwitz, had a number tattooed on their arms, and were assigned duties. Through an odd turn of events Solomon was “privileged” to dig sand to cover the ashes of the Jews killed in the gas chambers. Time passed and Solomon was transferred again to another camp, this time he would be given a pick and told to help repair the damage done by American airplane bombings.

On May 1, 1945 a miracle took place on a train ride to work in the city of Tutzing. The train was stopped by a group of American soldiers. The soldiers brought liberation to Solomon and the other Jews. After years of torture they were finally free. Solomon’s parents, brothers, sister, aunts and uncles all were murdered by the Nazis during the Holocaust of World War Two. Out of the 78 people in his entire family he is the sole survivor. Solomon’s story is one of millions who lost they had and all they knew. Yet he and others were somehow able to hold on to hope and live to tell the story. All of this happened to Solomon for a reason. It has made him into the person he is today. (For more on Solomon’s survival and other stories like his visit www.holocaustsurvivors.org.)

Asking the question, “Why did Solomon Radasky have to go through the pain and torture of the Nazi holocaust?” is similar to wondering why Yoseph had to experience the trials of being sold into slavery and eventually imprisoned for many years. Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do the righteous suffer while the wicked prosper? Why must terrible events take place in the world of moral people? Why? If you have ever asked yourself these questions then take heart, you are not alone. Everyone wonders these things. During the events of this week’s Torah parasha, surely Yoseph had to ask himself “why?”

The single answer to this age-old question is simple. The answer is “because.” Everything that happens in your life, from the situations you find yourself in now to what you will face ten years from tomorrow happens because. Because why? Well this is simply because life on the planet earth operates within the certain undeniable principle of light and darkness.

The principle of light and darkness

The purpose behind the experiences of Solomon Radasky, Yoseph, and yourself are to expose the light of Yahweh.

Rabbi Yehuda Berg teaches in his book “The 72 Names of G/d” that “humans were created with two distinct aspects to their nature – darkness and light. The darkness is in the human ego – as in Everybody’s Got One. This is also where the light hides. Light is in the human soul, which is obscured by the ego. The purpose of your existence is to allow the full intensity of light to shine in your life and in this world. You have two ways to conduct your life:

1) Through your ego, doubting or oblivious to the truth of the Light, considering only yourself.

2) Through the humility of your soul, constantly finding the Light and considering the needs of others

Your career, your family, and your friends are here for one purpose – to provide the opportunity for you to carry out your personal transformation, they give you the chance to let go of your ego, selfishness, and envy, and in turn, find the Light.” These two aspects of the human nature are the flesh and the spirit, the yetzer hara and the yetzer tov. Believers in Messiah are not to live in darkness but walk in the Light. “You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness,” 1 Thessalonians 5:5.

The events of your life shape your character and personality into what it is today. "In every sorrow there is profit," says Mishlei (Proverbs) 14:23. Surely Solomon and Yoseph understood the principle that Light comes from the darkness.

At the end

This week’s parasha is called “miketz” which literally means “at the end.” This portion begins with the verse that says, “at the end of two years.” It had been two years since Yoseph had correctly interpreted a pair of dreams from the chief cupbearer and the baker. These were two full years of imprisonment, darkness, and loneliness. During this time Yoseph learns to control his selfish, sinful nature and release the Light of Yahweh. Yoseph discovers that it’s the events of your life that make you who you are. Yoseph now understands that it is not anything in him that can interpret the dreams; rather it is the Almighty’s power working through him.

When Yoseph is brought out of the pit of prison and before Pharaoh it is like déjà vu all over again.

Pharaoh reveals his two nightmares and then says the same exact words the cupbearer and baker used. Pharaoh said, “no one can interpret” his dreams in Beresheet 41:15. What is amazing about this event is that though the situation is the same Yoseph responds differently. He does not respond has as he did in the past. No, Yoseph has changed. Yoseph has learned to release the Light. He does not say “relate it to me” like he done so in the past to the cupbearer and the baker. This time Yoseph tells Pharaoh “Elohim will answer.” Instead of hiding the Light with ego and selfish ambition Yoseph points Pharaoh to the Light.

The Light of Torah

In the Scriptures, Light is the Hebrew word “ore.” According to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and Dictionary “ore” literally means “to be luminous literally and metaphorically: break of day, glorious, kindle, set on fire, shine.” The word “ore” appears 5 times on the first day of creation, representing the 5 books of the Torah that bring Light to the world. Light is also used as a synonym or Hebrew idiom for the Torah. So when the scriptures speak of Light they are in fact many times speaking of the Word of Yahweh, the Torah. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light (Torah) unto my path,” says Tehillim (Psalm) 119.

Light is also symbolic of the Messiah Yahshua. “When Yahshua spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life,” Yochannan 8:12. So, light symbolizes Torah and light symbolizes Yahshua. This makes since because Yahshua is the living Torah!

In the Sermon on the Mount Yahshua told his followers to let their light shine. He was saying to let their Torah observance shine as a witness to everyone that the Messiah has come. Yahshua was reminding them of the principle that inside man is the darkness of the flesh yet inside man was ability to choose Light. “Let your light (Torah) so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven,” Mattitiyahu 5:16

When Light/Torah/Yahshua penetrates through the darkness, lives are changed, hurts are healed, and people understand their purpose in life. Yoseph went through many trials, which in turn brought forth much Light. The trials you are going through now are happening for the same reason. What happens in your life occurs to bring forth Light. This doesn’t mean Yahweh has caused the events that are occurring but He has allowed it. It occurs to provide you an opportunity to grow. Hardships and suffering fan the flame of Light in the darkness of your world.

How to shine the light

Friend, light and darkness cannot coexist at the same time. Remember that in the beginning the Father said “let their be Light” and from the darkness came Light. Well, by simply understanding how Light shines you will discover your destiny as a person and find fulfillment in your life. How does the Light of Messiah shine?

First of all, when you have a sickness, hardship, trial, problem, or area of conflict don’t immediately ask Yahweh to remove it. When you have a bad day, don’t go into super rebuking mode and cast out everything including the demon of wrinkled clothes. Before you pray to the Father to release you from a sickness, hardship, or circumstance first ask Him what you are supposed to learn from it. Maybe you are going through something just to learn a specific lesson in the process. “Trials and difficulties mark the beginnings of darkness, but there is always the Light of salvation to look forward to even as the sons of Israel were brought out of Egypt at night in Devarim 16:1,” wrote Avi Ben Mordechai. Remember that Yahshua knew about the trials of Kefa (Peter). Yahshua knew in advance that Kefa would be tempted to deny the Messiah but Yahshua did not pray that the trials would be removed. Instead Yahshua prayed that Kefa’s “faith would remain.” Kefa needed the trials to prove his faith!

Light also comes forth when a person goes through either a spiritual transformation or suffering. Light is blocked when a person walks in the flesh and fulfills the lusts of the soul.

Rabbi Berg teaches that, “when we suffer we experience pain, when we undergo grief and heartache, the hurting actually purges ego and self-interest from our nature. The soul- our true self – shines brighter at that moment. This is why we suddenly feel a sense of love and unity with others when planes crash into buildings and those buildings collapse on national television. This is why we feel a shift in our priorities when the rubble of human remains litters the landscape as a result of war, terror, or tragic accidents. Our egos diminish from the emotional pain and our souls suddenly blossom.” Suffering brings people to the revelation and understanding that life is not all about satisfying selfish desires and ambition. The Almighty uses suffering to call people back to Himself, to humble people to the realization that life is not all about self.

Pain brings revelation of human nature but the pain lessons over time. The pain is forgotten and forsaken for selfishness, sinful actions and thought. Don’t you know that churches are full of people when there is a national tragedy? Many spend time at the altar confessing a “spiritual” renewal but a few weeks later those same people are nowhere to be found when the church bell rings. Nothing lasting has taken place because the truth of the Light, the Torah is not taught. The light of suffering will soon diminish and people will return to their old ways.

Suffering is temporary and so the light of suffering is temporary. A person stays humble for only so long. Darkness soon overtakes the light as the pain of tragedy is forgotten and there is a return to walking in the flesh and looking out for self.

Let it shine, let is shine, let it shine

To turn the Light switch on indefinitely you must experience a spiritual transformation akin to the caterpillar transforming into the butterfly. “The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light (Torah/Yahshua). Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with Adon Moshiach Yahshua, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature,” Romans 12:12-13. Your life must change from going with the flow of the flesh to submitting to the Torah if you want the Light of Messiah to shine for good.

To keep the power of the light shinning you should be like Solomon Radasky and Yoseph – you should learn from your pain and experience the life-changing presence of the Almighty.

You must deny yourself and follow the Messiah; follow the Torah; follow the Light. “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: Yahweh is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Yahshua, his Son, purifies us from all sin,” 1 Yochannan 1:5-7.

Pain is evitable. The experiences of life cannot be stopped. What happens to you happens for a reason – so your life can show forth the Light and glory of Yahweh. If you don’t believe this just ask Solomon Radasky. Or ask Yoseph. Or ask the Messiah. “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through Yahweh,” Yochannan 3:19-21.