Mikketz 2023 Plaut p. 272 

Source Sheet by Yair Robinson 

Joseph appears to finally be at peace. He is now second only to Pharaoh, established and freed from bondage. He marries and has two children, named Menashe, “God has made me forget the hardship of my experience and home”, and Ephraim, G’d has made me fertile in this, the land of my affliction”. In so many ways, his naming of his children reflects the experience of so many refugees, so many who come up from destitution: they seek to forget their former plight, and rejoice in their newfound and hard-fought triumph. But the Malbim argues that Joseph, in fact, does not actually forget his former suffering. Rather, the names act as a kind of blessing, “reminding him of his former poverty so that he would never cease to be grateful.”  

We ourselves are descended from those who suffered in their former lands, and arriving here, had to endure grueling and punishing conditions before rejoicing in their new land, and leaving behind the old one. And we know it is important not to forget our past hardships, but remember, both that we ourselves never cease to be grateful, but also so that we may strive to help others, to lift up the downtrodden in our own midst, in our own day. As we bid farewell to Chanukah, we must remember our past, remember that mission, so that we can lift others up to holiness.