Miketz, Chanukkah and the Power of the Contrary Each year as we light our menorahs and focus on Parshat Miketz, the parallel between Pharaoh's dreams and the content of Al HaNisim grabs my attention. In our Parsha, Pharoah has a disturbing dream. Two sets of cows, seven strong, fat cows and seven thin, gaunt ones appear on the scene. And, we are told, וַתֹּאכַ֣לְנָה הַפָּר֗וֹת רָע֤וֹת הַמַּרְאֶה֙ וְדַקֹּ֣ת הַבָּשָׂ֔ר אֵ֚ת שֶׁ֣בַע הַפָּר֔וֹת יְפֹ֥ת הַמַּרְאֶ֖ה וְהַבְּרִיאֹ֑ת and the ugly gaunt cows ate up the seven handsome sturdy cows. (Gen. 41:4) His second dream is similar as seven healthy ears of grain are eaten up by seven thin scorched ones.וַתִּבְלַ֙עְנָה֙ הַשִּׁבֳּלִ֣ים הַדַּקּ֔וֹת אֵ֚ת שֶׁ֣בַע הַֽשִּׁבֳּלִ֔ים הַבְּרִיא֖וֹת וְהַמְּלֵא֑וֹת (Gen. 41:7) While Yosef teaches Pharoah that his dreams are cautionary images, the Al HaNisim echoes a similar literary theme. In this tefilah, we are told that the unexpected dynamic wins the day – the minority, the apparently wea
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