Today’s Torah portion continues the cycle of Joseph. Joseph who was sold into slavery by his brothers. Joseph who worked for Potipher and was accused of sexual improprieties and was thrown in jail.

This is Shabbat Chanukah, the darkest Shabbat of the year. But today, this sixth day of Chanukah is also Rosh Hodesh Tevet, the light is starting to return and that brings us hope. Rabbi Kaya Stern Kaufman points out that “the rabbis created this festival of light to answer our yearning for light and warmth…we are reminded that the light is returning, that the light, in fact, always returns. We nurture an attitude of trust in the returning light even when there is an abundance of apparent darkness.”

For her, this is a holiday about trust. She points out that there is no Havdalah, no separation between Chanukah and the rest of the year because light and trust are always available to us.

But what if you were like Joseph and thrown in jail. How would you find the light? How would you learn to trust? You might remember this from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat:

Close every door to me,
Hide all the world from me
Bar all the windows
And shut out the light

Do what you want with me,
Hate me and laugh at me
Darken my daytime
And torture my night

If my life were important I
Would ask will I live or die
But I know the answers lie
Far from this world

Close every door to me,
Keep those I love from me
Children of Israel
Are never alone

For I know I shall find
My own peace of mind
For I have been promised
A land of my own

Joseph seemed to trust. To trust in his destiny, that somehow, even while in jail, he would rise above, he would be rescued, he would find the light.

This week, the New York Times published an op ed about the Hypocrisy of Hanukah, this is a holiday about rights, about religious freedom and our ability to celebrate this season as Jews. I don’t think it has to be so. t is ironic that a holiday that commemorates fighting against assimilation, has become the most assimilated of holidays; I don’t think that is hypocrisy. That is a discussion for another day.

That story of s small band of people who had hope, and the small vial of oil that lasted for eight days and restored the light—brings us hope today. The Maccabees trusted in their spiritual mission so they persisted and were victorious. The real miracle of Chanukah is that we are still here 2000 years later. Still discussing it. Still arguing about it. Still celebrating.

The word Chanukah itself means dedication. We are commanded to be a holy people, a light to the nations. And so we spread that light. That’s Torah. That’s why we are rededicating our sacred scroll tomorrow, during Chanukah, so we can live out our vision of lifelong learning and meaningful observance. Black fire on white fire.

As the English version of Mi Yimalel says “In every age, a hero or sage came to our aid.” That brings us hope—and trust—bitachon. In this age, people are concerned about the rising anti-semitism. The commandment for Chanukah is to publicize the miracle—whether that is the victory of the Maccabees or the light that increases. We place that Chanukiah at the entrance of our doorways, much like a mezuzah. And they guard our coming in and our going out. But there is a clause that says, except in times of danger. Many have argued with me this week that they were afraid—to wear their leggings in public, to put a Chanukah decoration on their door, to identify as Jews. I even had several conversations about wearing my kippah.

And yet…

I can’t live in that place of fear. I have to have hope. And trust. Alan Morinis, Rabbi Kaufman reminds us, “is that bitachon gives us the capacity to act fearlessly. A heart cannot hold both fear and trust at the same time. Joseph was able to learn bitachon. It is part of his legacy, despite his harsh circumstances from exile from his family, false accusations, imprisonment.”

This is Human Rights Shabbat so sponsored by Truah, Rabbis for Human Rights, which does a lot of the social justice work nationally that I engage in locally. I am a proud member of Truah.

One of their campaigns is around Mass Incarceration. It is shocking, and Sarah just read this statistic to me this week again, one out of two Americans have been incarcerated. Currently 1 out of 100 Americans are incarcerated.

Truah’s campaign around mass incarceration is about :

• Advocating for an end to police practices that result in disproportionate stops, arrests, and deaths of people of color.
• • This is why I serve on the task force with the police department and other clergy on racism and policing.
• Organizing rabbis and their communities to protest police violence and to demand full investigations in cases of killings by police officers.
  • This is why I have been working quietly behind the scenes on the city’s response to the officer-involved shooting death of Decynthia Clements back in March. Just this week the clergy delivered a formal letter to the police chief asking that the lieutenant not be returned to active duty. I chose not to sign that letter although Rabbi Kohn did, because of my unique role as chaplain and community leader. I did, however, write my own letter, praising the department for their work with the Jewish community—and also explaining why because of safety concerns and trust concerns, he should not return. The letter—and the jelly donuts—were well received and I received a thank you text message from the chief shortly after.
• Advocating for more just sentencing policies.
  • And consistent ones. Long before I arrived in Elgin.
• Organizing to end prolonged solitary confinement, which international law experts have classified as torture.
• Helping Jewish communities to volunteer with incarcerated individuals and their families, employ the formerly incarcerated, and engage in local campaigns to change state criminal justice laws.
  • Do you know that we have one member who is in jail—at Elgin Mental Health. And at least two members who were convicted of felonies who have spent time in jail? We need congregants who are willing to go to jail—with me or by yourselves to visit, when needed.
• Educating the Jewish community about why our current system of mass incarceration benefits none of us.

Much like an episode in Orange is the New Black, one day the Kane County Jail called. They were being swamped with people requesting kosher meals and they were desparate to save money on that added expense. I went out to the jail and looked at how they were service kosher food and saved them plenty. Cheerios, for instance, is kosher, whether it comes from the Cheerio box that they serve all inmates from or whether it comes pre-packaged for specifically kosher meals. Now if I can just get them to save on Styrofoam. And they were spending a fortune on Kosher Meat. None of these inmates were Jewish per se…but had heard that kosher food was better, after all, we answer to a higher authority.

Now Rabbi Maralee Gordon has a slightly different story from the McHenry County Jail. McHenry County is the closest detention facility to O’Hare so people seeking asylum who fly through O’hare are often taken there. Recently she told her story on the T’ruah list serve. So I asked her to come and tell it here this morning. And she brings with us Fair Trade chocolate. How perfect for Shabbat Chanukah where we read about Joseph in jail—no fair trade chocolate I am sure and Human Rights Shabbat. Because after all, in Connecticut I once saw a billboard that said, “Chocolate drizzle is a right.” Not really, but a real sign!

“As part of the Interfaith Committee for Detained Immigrants, I visit weekly with immigrants detained by ICE at the local county jail . About a year and a half ago, the Lieutenant in charge of the jail asked if I would like to teach a class on Judaism, as one of the immigrants had requested it. Ever since, this has been a highlight of my week. Last year I was away for Chanukah, but today we had a Chanukah party during class. The eleven attending today were originally from Nigeria, Belarus, Ramallah, Venezuela, Ghana, Mexico, Ethiopia, Jamaica and Mongolia. Some are/were Muslim, some Christian, and three have strong ties to Judaism.

After we ate latkes with sour cream, salsa and/or applesauce, and Israeli candy bars, we talked about the Maccabees, the seven branched menorah in the Temple and nine-branched chanukiah, light during dark times, and sang some Chanukah songs. We got ready to play dreidel with Truah Fair Trade chocolate coins accompanied by discussion about the ethics of gambling (they brought it up, not me).

J looked at the coins and said, “Hey, it says Ghana on the coins – I’m from Ghana!” He knew that Ghana produces chocolate, and I explained that this was fair trade chocolate from Ghana, only then realizing myself why the coins had “Ghana” imprinted on them.

The “icing on the cake” was when C, from Venezuela, wanted to share a different melody for the Sh’ma than the one we usually use. It was Debbie Friedman’s Sh’ma! He said he loves all her music. Another astounding afternoon at the jail!”

Light banishes darkness. Finding light even in the darkest of places, like the Kane County or McHenry County Jail. And chocolate. Fair Trade. Because no one should be a slave. Not Joseph. Not the Israelites. Not those in Ghana. Or tomato workers in this country. And the fact that we are discussing this based on Torah values. That is the real miracle of Chanukah.