In launching the Chabad campaign for public Menorah lightings, at a farbrengen on Chanukah 5734/1973, the Rebbe took inspiration from the biblical story of Joseph in prison, his interaction with the butler and the baker.
One morning Joseph awoke and he noticed that the butler and baker’s faces were downcast. They looked upset. Now, remember they were in prison. No one is happy in prison. It makes perfect sense to be unhappy there. It needs no explanation.
And think of Joseph himself – torn away from his family, sold as a slave in Egypt, then framed and thrown into prison. He had real problems. He had every reason to be depressed, and self-absorbed in his own misery.
But he still noticed the butler and baker’s unhappiness. He saw their downcast faces. And he took the initiative and interest to ask them about it. In Hebrew it’s four short words: “Maduah Peneichem Ra’im HaYom?” Why are your faces downcast today?
Think about it. That thoughtful gesture, that generosity of spirit, those four words asking the butler and the baker – caused a tremendous chain reaction of events. He ended up interpreting their dreams, which in turn led him to interpreting Pharaoh’s dreams, which led him to become viceroy, to save Egypt from famine, and to reconnect with his family. And it all started with that question!
At that Chanukah 1973 farbrengen the Rebbe used this as an inspiration to launch the public Menorah campaign. Never underestimate the power of even a little bit of light! It’s catchy, it spreads, and it can set in motion a tremendous positive chain reaction for the good! Each Menorah is a catalyst, not only for its immediate surroundings but can have a far-reaching positive impact.
The Rebbe even quoted recent scientific publications that speak of the power of a small act having far reaching implications -far beyond the original. It appears the Rebbe was referring to The Butterfly Effect, published in 1972, in the year prior to this farbrengen.
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Some of you may have seen Rob Kovach’s email last week about “the origin story” behind Chanukah on Jay. A local businessman was visiting Detroit and saw their “Menorah on the D” with huge spectrum of community in attendance, outdoors, in public, and called Rob – what would it take for us to bring this back to Albany? Rob got in touch with Chabad here, got more orgs and people on-board and the rest is history.
But think about it – this origin story is the positive chain reaction. Light spreads! In this case from downtown Detroit to the Capital Region. And each of us passes that light forward!