Tzavarei Binyamin: The Transcendence of Yosef’s Yearning and Vision

Author's note: In this essay, I delve into a message of hope related to Chanukah that has sustained me through some of my darkest moments, helping me adopt a posture of optimism and aspiration toward the future. 

After diving deep into the Midrashic sources, I struggled to find the words to weave the ideas together. It was not until I saw an interview with Adriana Rose (#nowJewishNanny) and Elon Gold that the pieces fell into place. Hearing Adriana share her triumphs and struggles with mental health during her conversion process provided the spark I needed to connect the ancient texts to our modern reality. 

This is the first in a planned series of articles focusing on the enduring lessons we can glean from the resilience and wisdom of Yosef HaTzaddik.

 Explain what we read, or how we choose what to read? when it was instituted? why? Who was Zachariah? What's the background of his boom within the cannon? Why were these chapters chosen for Hanukkah? Also the fundamentals, the medrash Rabbah about yosef and Binyamin, the connection to rani Vespucci, what rani Vespucci means, how it connects to moshiach ben yosef, what is the story of moshiach Ben yosef....how Judith Grunwald heard it from her students in a Cyprus internment camp

Additional Insights

• Gematria Connection: There is a mystical connection between Yosef (יוסף) and Zion (ציון). Both have the numerical value (Gematria) of 156. Yosef (Zion) weeps for the destruction, but the "Daughter of Zion" is told to sing in Zechariah.

• The "Neck": The Temple is metaphorically called the "Neck" of the world (Song of Songs 4:4). The weeping was on the "necks" (the ruins of the Temples).[1] The prophecy in Zechariah restores the dignity and "upright stature" of the Daughter of Zion.

• Hanukkah: Zechariah 2:14 is the Haftarah for Shabbat Hanukkah.[5] Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Temple. While Yosef wept for its destruction, the Haftarah reminds us of the ultimate goal: the eternal light and presence of God that will not be extinguished.

Appendix F: Additional Songs related to Jewish  Resilience and the Yearning for Redemption

1. Menorah by Avrohom Fried

עשינו לך מנורה בימי משה, וכבתה, עשינו לך מנורה בימי שלמה, וכבתה, מכאן ואילך אין אנו ממתינין אלא לאורך. 

ילקוט שמעוני (ישעיהו, פרק ס, רמז תצט): "קומי אורי כי בא אורך." א"ר יוחנן משל למהלך בדרך עם דמדומי חמה. בא אחד והדליק לו את הנר, וכבה. ובא אחד והדליק לו את הנר, וכבה. אמר, מכאן ואילך איני ממתין אלא לאורו של בקר, כך אמרו ישראל לפני הקב"ה: עשינו לך מנורה בימי משה וכבתה, בימי שלמה וכבת, מכאן ואילך אין אנו ממתינין אלא לאורך. 

"We made a Menorah for You in the days of Moses, but it was extinguished. We made a Menorah for You in the days of Solomon, but it was extinguished. From now on, we wait only for Your light."

Source: Yalkut Shimoni regarding Isaiah 60:1. "Arise, shine, for your light has come." 

Rabbi Yochanan said: This is similar to a parable of a man walking on the road at twilight. Someone came and lit a candle for him, but it went out. Another came and lit a candle for him, but it went out. He said, "From now on, I will not wait [for a candle], but only for the light of morning."

So too, Israel said before the Holy One, Blessed be He: "We made a Menorah for You in the days of Moses, but it was extinguished. In the days of Solomon, [we made one] and it was extinguished. From now on, we wait only for Your light."

2. Haben Yakir Li Ephraim - Mashiach ben Yoseph (מָשִׁיחַ בֶּן־יוֹסֵף) is also known as Mashiach bar/ben Ephraim (מָשִׁיחַ בַּר/בֶּן אֶפְרַיִם‎). This song symbolizes God's enduring love and affection for the Jewish people. 

הַבֵּן יַקִּיר לִי אֶפְרָיִם,אִם יֶלֶד שַׁעֲשׁוּעִים. כִּי מִדֵּי דַבְּרִי בוֹ זָכֹר אֶזְכְּרֶנּוּ עוֹד. כִּי מִדֵּי דַבְּרִי בוֹ זָכֹר אֶזְכְּרֶנּוּ עוֹד. רַחֵם אֲרַחֲמֶנּוּ - נְאֻם ה'. (ירמיהו לג: יט)

Is Ephraim a precious son to Me? Is he a delightful child? For whenever I speak of him, I earnestly remember him still. I will surely have mercy on him — says Hashem." (Jeremiah 31:19)

3. The Man from Vilna -  This song was written and composed by Abie Rotenberg. The lyrics tell a touching story of the narrator meeting an elderly survivor from Vilna (now Vilnius, Lithuania) who shares a poignant tale, emphasizing themes of faith, history, and perseverance.

VERSE 1:
I met a man last Sunday, who was on his way back home
from a wedding in Chicago, and was traveling alone.
He said he came from Vilna, a survivor I could tell
and I helped him with his suitcase, he could not walk very well.

A steward gave us coffee as we settled on the plane
and I asked him why he bothers, at his age there’d be no blame.
He said “no Simcha is a burden, though I miss my dear late wife”
and then he shared with me a story that has changed my view of life:

CHORUS 1:
“We danced round and round in circles as if the world had done no wrong
from evening until morning, filling up the shul with song.
Though we had no Sifrei Torah to clutch close to our hearts
in their place we held the future of a past so torn apart.

VERSE 2:
I remember liberation, joy and fear both intertwined
where to go and what to do, and how to leave the pain behind?
My heart said ‘go to Vilna’, dare I pray yet once again
for the chance to find a loved one, or perhaps a childhood friend?

It took many months to get there, from the late spring to the fall
and as I, many others, close to four hundred in all,
and slowly there was healing, darkened souls now mixed with light
when someone proudly cried out, ‘Simchas Torah is tonight!’

CHORUS 2:
We danced round and round in circles as if the world had done no wrong
from evening until morning, filling up the Shul with song.
Though we had no Sifrei Torah to clutch close to our hearts
in their place we held the future of a past so torn apart.

VERSE 3:
We ran as one towards the shul, our spirits in a trance
and we tore apart the barricade, in defiance we would dance.
But the scene before our eyes shook us to the core
scraps of siddur, bullet holes, bloodstains on the floor.

Turning to the eastern wall, we looked on in despair
there’d be no scrolls to dance with, the holy ark was bare.
Then we heard two children crying, a boy and girl whom no one knew
and we realized that no children were among us but those two.

CHORUS 3:
We danced round and round in circles as if the world had done no wrong
from evening until morning, filling up the Shul with song.
Though we had no Sifrei Torah to gather in our arms
in their place we held those children, the Jewish people would live on.

We danced round and round in circles as if the world had done no wrong
from evening until morning, filling up the shul with song.
Though we had no Sifrei Torah to clutch and hold up high
in their place we held those children, Am Yisrael Chai”.

We danced round and round in circles as if the world had done no wrong
from evening until morning, filling up the shul with song.
Though we had no Sifrei Torah to gather in our arms
in their place we held those children, the Jewish people would live on
Am Yisrael Chai.
The Jewish people would live on.

The Jewish people WILL live on.

Appendix G: What is Yad Leachim?

Appendix H: Personal Goals and Aspirational Mission

As a result of the encounters and insights described in this article, I have set for myself several actionable goals to do my part to spread light. I would love to hear from you - what steps do you plan to take to preserve the flame of Torah and be a force for hope and healing in this broken world?

1. Partner with Yad Leachim to raise the funds and organize a Shabbaton for all the Women and children they have rescued - going as far back as twenty years or more. The challenges we face reintegrating into Jewish society affect us years and even generations into the future. These events have been a source of connection, community and encouragement for me and the other women.

2. Create an improved sheet music for the song that inspired this article: Rani Vesimchi. This polished version will include musical signature for the measures and rhythm values for the notes.

3. Create a public policy proposal to incorporate and increase music education for children in Israel for a broad populations in school school settings and through extracurricular programing and present my plan to Limor Son-HarMelech to lobby for and advance my agenda in the Kneset.