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Portions for Chanukah & Parashat Miketz

The Torah portions for Chanukah days 1, 2, 4, and 5 are parts of Numbers 7, describing the sacrifices offered for the consecration and dedication of the Tabernacle.

The Torah portion for the Shabbat during Chanukah (the festival’s third day this year) is Miketz (Genesis 41:1-44:17), the tenth in the book of Genesis. It continues the story of Joseph, describing how he interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams and became a high Egyptian official; and how during a famine in Canaan his brothers came to Egypt and without recognizing Joseph appealed to him for assistance.

The Haftarah is Zachariah 2:14-4:7. The prophet presents a vision of the purification of the Temple and its High Priest, and conveys G-d’s message, “Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit…” (4:6).

This image of Joseph interpreting pharaoh’s dreams is a 19th Century painting by Jean-Adrien Guignet.