Miketz - Assimilation

I have always had great difficulty with the concept of assimilation.  In my mind when we fully assimilate it can lead to losing our traditions, beliefs and culture.  This week as we celebrate Hanukkah we learn of one of the greatest stories of assimilation in our history.  There were two camps – the mityavnim (Hellenists) and the Chasidim (pious ones).  Most of the population was assimilated.  This is why children were given Greek names, the practice of Shabbat and Kashrut were forsaken and the Temple was turned into a Greek Temple.  Ultimately, Judah and the Maccabbees win back and rededicate the Temple.  Still, assimilation existed.

                I worry about it today too.  Maybe it’s why I gave my children Hebrew only names, why I am so strict in my practice and in my beliefs and in my concern that we teach Jews about our heritage and beliefs.

                While all of these problems still scare me and the Jewish population continues to shrink, I found in this week’s Parsha that we may need assimilation to save the Jewish people.

                As Joseph is living in Egypt (having saved Egypt from the terrible famine), he dresses as an Egyptian, marries an Egyptian woman (Osnat) and is so unrecognizable that his own brothers do not know who he is. 

                Had Joseph not become so much a part of Egyptian culture and life, he would not have been able to ultimately save his family from the famine and move them to Egypt.  Joseph had the ability even while being away from his family and away from his heritage (in a diaspora) to maintain his beliefs.  He did not lose his attachment to God and family as is evident in the naming of his children (Menashe, the firstborn and Efraim).

                Part of living in the Diaspora is to know how to balance belief/faith and outside stimuli.  When those outside stimuli become too strong, the assimilation process can take over.  As parents we need to know when to let it in and when to keep it out.  Which is more important to us, to our future – doing Chumash (Bible) homework or going to Baseball practice?  Which will have a greater impact on what we do in our lives, how we carry on our traditions?

                                                                AS A FAMILY:     Pick a story to read, make it a Jewish one.
                                                                                            Go to a museum, make it a Jewish one.
                                                                                            Teach your child about a grandparent of yours and how                                                                                              they influenced your life, Jewishly.

FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION:       
                1.            How many dreams did Pharaoh have?
                2.            About what were Pharaoh’s dreams?  What did they mean?
                3.            What did Joseph’s Egyptian name mean?
                4.            What happened when Joseph saw his brothers?
                5.            What did Reuben promise Yaakov?
                6.            What happened with the goblet?