When you look at a Torah scroll, you'll see something interesting: There's no separation between last week's Torah portion and this week's Torah portion. The text just runs right into each other. Rashi gives two possible reasons for this.

One of the great values and teaching in Judaism is that it can be lived everywhere and anywhere. Jacob and Joseph are both role models of what it's like to live in a diaspora, but each of their experiences were radically different.

Being able to see whatever happens to us in life as part of some bigger plan is so important. Joseph tells his brothers not to beat themselves up over their behavior for throwing him into a pit. Because everything that happens in life, happens for a reason.

Usually, when we speak, we speak so someone else can hear what we have to say. But sometimes, it's for us to hear the words. It can be an introspective process, as explained by a story in this week's Torah portion.

Joseph understood that the dreams he had were a form of prophecy, a destiny into the glimpse of the Jewish people. It's a good lesson for us about turning our dreams into a reality and transforming our goals into action.

Instead of being able to forgive and forget, Joseph puts his brothers through such a big ordeal. It seems like the actions of an upset young man who's trying to take revenge and be vindictive. So why did he do this?.

We just finished Chanukah and the lesson of the festival is to never forget where we came from. This teaching can be seen in a the remarkable story of the reunion between Jacob and his beloved son, Joseph.

How can we be glorifying the Maccabees for their defeat of the Greeks when they took political leadership – something they weren't supposed to do? Why? Because we can celebrate good things when they happen, even when those good things are subsequently tainted. We don't let the perfect become the enemy of the good.

My favorite Chanukah story comes from the famous Soviet dissident Natan Sharansky, one of my greatest heroes. It's about how he was able to celebrate the festival lights in his Russian prison cell.

In the story of Chanukah, the Greeks wanted to attack the Jewish concept of 'tzniut,' modesty. Why? Because they knew it plays a central role in Torah and Judaism.