Before Chanukah I was interviewed by Duke Keith from KLAQ for an El Paso Townsquare radio story that aired early Sunday morning. During our conversation he asked me about Chanukah liturgy and I realized that in over 10 years no one has ever asked me such a question on a public forum. Even in Jewish circles, Chanukah is most popularly associated with lighting the Menorah, but not with its liturgy. While there certainly is a unique Chanukah liturgy - the V’al Hanissim prayer recited during the Amida prayer and the Grace After Meal - it’s not nearly as well known as the liturgy associated with most other Jewish holidays. While we can certainly do more to focus on this special prayer, the core message of Chanukah comes across to the world in such a powerful way through the Menorah, because light is something we can all readily appreciate. Liturgy must be studied and is not accessible to all, whereas flames of fire brighten darkness no matter what language you speak. In this week’s parsha Miketz we continue learning about the dramatic saga of Yosef. Sold into slavery by his brothers, he wound up in an Egyptian dungeon for a crime he never committed. Pharaoh dreamed of seven scrawny cows devouring seven fat cows and seven dried out ears of corn devouring seven full ears of corn, which Yosef explained were a divine message that Egypt will enjoy seven years of plentiful harvest followed by seven years of famine. He suggested hoarding the seven year surplus to save the region from the devastating famine and Pharoah tapped him for the job of implementing the survival plan. He was now viceroy to Pharaoh, wielded tremendous power and bore sole responsibility of the Egyptian economy. When the famine struck and people streamed to Egypt for provisions, Yosef’s brothers came as well, but when they stood before the viceroy, the Torah emphasizes that Yosef recognized them but they did not recognize him. Of course, a 22 year absence can cause you not to recognize a brother but our sages teach us that there was a deeper reason why the brothers did not recognize Yosef. When Avraham started his ideological revolution of monotheism, he remained independent of all nations. The same was true of his son Yitzchok and his grandson Yaakov and his sons. In order to maintain their spiritual orientation it was crucial for them to be separate from all others and engage with civilization on their own terms. Yosef was the first member of the Abrahamic tribe to lose this unique independence, becoming an Egyptian slave who remained beholden to them even after his meteoric rise to power with the immense pressure of managing the affairs of state. Nevertheless, Yosef retained his spiritual equilibrium and even managed to elevate the moral and ethical orientation of the depraved Egyptians themselves. This was an accomplishment his brothers could not fathom. Yosef was the first Menorah. Just as flames illuminate darkness no matter what language you speak or which culture you associate with, the lessons of Judaism are meant to inspire humanity in every place and at all times. Yosef and Chanukah teach us that a Jew must never be intimidated by opposition or apathy and proudly live life Jewishly in a way that will inspire all humanity to greater moral and ethical heights, preparing our world for the era of Moshiach, when peace and tranquility will reign for all.