At the peak of the tension in Yosef's story, the Torah seems to stop everything to insert a seemingly unrelated tale.

The Torah then makes a long parenthesis — the story of Yehuda and Tamar (chapter 38) — and resumes exactly where it left off: "And Yosef was brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar... bought him" (Bereishit 39:1).

Imagine filming Yaakov's family the moment Yosef is sold. Everything is darkness.

Yaakov: "Vayma'en lehitna'chem" — he refused to be comforted; sitting in mourning, sackcloth on his loins. Yehuda: crushed, for as leader of the brothers, had he said "we do not sell Yosef," they would not have. The brothers: seeing their father in mourning, they have no desire for anything.

The Midrash asks an extraordinary question: we know what is happening with Yaakov, with Reuven, with the brothers. But what is the Holy One, Blessed be He, doing while everyone is in mourning?

In the heart of all this darkness, Hashem says: "This is the time to create the light of Mashiach." That is precisely what occupies Him.

Hashem "forces" Yehuda down to the Adullamite. His first two sons, married to Tamar, die; he holds back the third, Shelah. Tamar disguises herself, stands at the crossroads, and Yehuda turns aside toward her.

The purpose: the birth of Peretz, from whom descend Chetzron, Salma, Boaz, Oved, Yishai, then King David — and from him, with Hashem's help, the King Mashiach. Hashem is already preparing the Geulah "through the back door," at the darkest moment.

Our Sages teach the stages of judgment: on Rosh Hashanah we are "written" (כתיבה), on Yom Kippur the judgment is "sealed" (חתימה), on Hoshana Rabbah the final verdict is handed down.

And Chanukah falls about three months after Rosh Hashanah — exactly the "ke-mishlosh chodashim," the three months of Tamar's account.

The name יהודה contains the Divine Name י-ה-ו-ה with the letter ד (David): Yehuda alludes to the Holy One, Blessed be He. And Tamar (the palm tree of the Song of Songs) represents Knesset Yisrael, the People of Israel.

"Hotzi'uha vetisaref" — Bring her out and let her be burned. Hashem, so to speak: "I have waited since Hoshana Rabbah. Three months of stay. If they have not improved their deeds, execute the verdict."

The People of Israel sends its defense to her "father-in-law," the Holy One, Blessed be He: "Lo anochi harah" — by the man to whom these belong I am pregnant.

Then the three objects — the seal (chotamet), recalling the oil flask sealed with the High Priest's seal; the wicks (petilim) of the Menorah; the staff (mateh = 54, +1 = 55 = כלי, the vessel of the Chanukiah). Chanukah itself is our attachment that never gives way.

Hashem "raises His hands": since Israel stays attached to Him, it will never be abandoned. And "lo netatiha le-Shelah beni" — שֵׁלָה may also be read שִׁילֹה (Shiloh), a name of Mashiach: "I delayed bringing them the Mashiach; I too am responsible." Through the light we kindle, may we draw near the light of Mashiach and merit the coming Geulah. Amen.