Jacob's Family and the Hasmonean Family

             The Shabbat of Ḥanukka always coincides with Parashat vaYeshev or Parshat Mikketz. Years in which Ḥanukka includes two Shabbatot, both vaYeshev and Mikketz are read during Ḥanukka.

It is not by chance that the parashot of Ḥanukka deal with Joseph and his brothers.         

There is a most instructive contrast between the story of Joseph and his brothers and the Ḥanukka story. The first shows what can happen when a Jewish family is disunited, the latter demonstrates what can be accomplished by a single, united family.