The bad looking, skinny cows ate the seven good looking, healthy cows (Bereshis 41:4)
Symbolizing that all of the happiness from the years of abundance will be forgotten during the years of hunger (RASHI)

Pharoah has a frightening dream. He sees seven ugly cows that swallow seven beautiful cows. Rashi points out this is to teach that during the years of famine, all of the good times are forgotten. I think there is a deep lesson we can learn from this.

As we know, this week began Chanukah. After we light the candles there is a universal custom to sing Ma’oz Tzur, which explains Jewish history. Let’s look closely at the middle four paragraphs which explain four different time periods and we will see something interesting.

The first of the middle paragraphs discusses the Egyptian exile. The second of the middle paragraphs discusses the redemption from the Babylonian exile. The third of the middle paragraphs discusses the Purim miracle. The final of the middle paragraphs discusses our holiday of Chanukah. These represent four different great moments in Jewish history, but they are all similar. All of these events include “hard times” at the beginning of their stories.

During our 210 years in Egypt, we were slaves and were given back-breaking labor – But we were redeemed. The Babylonian exile happened because of the destruction of the first Bais HaMikdash which we mourn on Tisha B’Av. Jewish blood was spilled and those who survived were in a very sad state – But we were redeemed. The Purim miracle happened after Haman and Achashverosh threatened to kill us – But we were redeemed. During the Greek rule in the story of Chanukah, numerous decrees were made which gave the death penalty to the Jews for learning Torah, keeping Shabbos, and performing a Bris Milah. The night before her wedding, a bride was forced to be with a Greek general. Times were not good – But we were redeemed. Every celebration we have begins with horror stories but end with joyous redemption.

Rashi tells us a sad thing about many people – when we go through hard times, we forget the good times we had. I think the deeper message to this is that when we are struggling, we should remember the stories of our good times – our redemptions. We should look closely at those stories and remember all of them began with hard times. Just because we are struggling now, it does not mean we should become depressed. If we are in a tough moment in our life we should remember that the redemption is just around the corner. Every great moment in our history was preceded by hard times. Rashi is telling us do not forget to look at the full picture of the good times because just as in the past, we were redeemed, in the future we will also be redeemed.

Good Shabbos!
-yes
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