Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves for it was to be a provider that G-d sent me ahead of you. (Bereishis 45:5)

Rav Shimshon Raphael Hirsch says that from this verse we can learn an important lesson about situations in which a person may have mixed feelings. On the one hand, the brothers have found their lost brother Yoseph, which is a great relief; yet on the other hand they now realize the enormity of their mistake. See Rav Hirsch in depth on how to deal with one’s emotions.

The Tiferes Shlomo, on the other hand, focuses on how one should act after the event. We realize at a certain point that something must be changed, and repentance is necessary. How should one relate to this obligation to repent? In this verse there are two very powerful words, which the Tiferes Shlomo points out to us. Repentance should always be done immediately, hence the word עתה – now. Secondly, just like all mitzvos, the mitzvah of repentance must be done with happiness. Therefore, Yoseph gives a directive to his brothers אַל־תֵּעָצְבוּ – be not grieved, rather repent now with joy.

On pondering this thought I realized that this is a monumental challenge. How would you feel if you, so to speak, ruined someone else’s life, causing them grief and distress, and now have to see them day in and day out? In addition, your sole financial sustenance is dependent upon this person’s benevolence. Would you be able to live happily? This is what Yoseph encouraged the brothers to do, as part of their daily avodas Hashem.

As we stand today, just after Chanukah, we feel the euphoria of our closeness to Hashem. We may forget the disillusionment that we previously had in our relationship with Hashem at that time, which brought the painful times preceding the miracle. If we forget those times, we may repeat the same mistakes, chas v’sholom. How do we overcome this challenge? It seems to me that we can answer with the age-old parable about repentance. A person’s connection to Hashem is likened to two objects connected with a string. If the string rips, in order to restore the connection, one must make a knot. That “bump” in our relationship will always be painful (when we run our fingers across it). However, there is the bright side. The items at the two ends of the string are now closer because the knot uses up a little bit of string, bringing both ends nearer. We become closer to Hashem when we repent. So those bumps in our lives that caused us to reconnect to Hashem are actually an essential part of our new closer relationship with Hashem.

Keeping the light of Chanukah with us means more than merely remembering the miracle throughout the year. It also means that we remember why we needed that miracle: in order that we will do our best to not become lackadaisical in our service of Hashem. If we can keep this glow of Chanukah through the deep Winter months, we might merit this year to have the redemption before the Spring arrives.