Family Strength: The Core Message of Chanukah and Parshas Vayeishev

Rabbi Zweig addresses a critical hashkafic question facing many Jews today: how to relate to non-religious family members. He begins by contrasting two episodes: Eliezer refuses to enter Lavan's house unless the idols are removed, yet Yaakov lives there for 20 years. The resolution reveals a fundamental Torah (תורה) principle: for strangers or acquaintances, one need not compromise comfort or atmosphere; for family, one must maintain relationships as long as no halacha (הלכה) is violated. The shiur examines three compelling questions from Parshas Vayeishev and Vayishlach. First, why does Leah receive praise for crying to avoid marrying Esav, while Yaakov is punished for not offering Dinah to Esav? The answer: cousins have no special obligation, but for a brother one must be moser nefesh, investing time and effort to bring him back. Second, when Shimon and Levi kill the city of Shechem and Yaakov protests that they've endangered the entire family, their response—"Should our sister be treated like a harlot?"—seems illogical. Rabbi Zweig explains they're teaching a profound message: if we don't stand up for every individual Jew, we don't deserve to survive as a nation. The Gemara (גמרא)'s law of eglah arufah confirms this—when a murdered Jew is found, the entire nation that left Egypt needs atonement, teaching that a nation indifferent to individual Jews didn't deserve redemption.