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I will suggest one answer that addresses both questions.
Chanuka, of all the Jewish holidays, does not have a Talmudic tractate of its own; a brief discussion about it is contained within the Gemara of Shabbat. In the midst of talking about Chanuka, the Gemara (22a) suddenly, inexplicably, turns to the story of Yosef & says, "the pit in which Yosef was thrown had no water; but it DID contain snakes & scorpions."
Huh? What is THIS doing here?!
On a technical level, the Gemara may be telling us that when you light the Chanukiya, it may not be too high, & it also may not be too low – such as at the bottom of a pit - because then other people will not be able to see it. And if they can't see the Chanukiya, then the crucial, added element of pirsumei nisa, publicizing the miracle, will be absent.
OK, that makes sense, but I still want to understand how Yosef fits into all this. So consider:
When Yosef first encounters his brothers in Egypt, he sees that they have not changed significantly from the siblings who cruelly threw him into the pit & sold him off as a slave. They still are at each other’s throats, fighting constantly among themselves & blaming one another. In Yosef's eyes, they are more "snakes & scorpions," hissing & biting each other, than loving family members.
And so he does not want to reveal himself & publicize the fact that he, too, is "one of them." That would surely not distinguish him in the eyes of the Egyptians, over whom he ruled.
But then the brothers, finally, admit their previous sin against Yosef. Led by Yehuda - Yosef’s rival in the family & the one who recommended that he be sold as a slave in the first place - they stand up in defense of their youngest brother Binyamin, Yosef’s only full sibling. Yosef now realizes that his brothers have done Teshuva & that they have finally come together in unity of purpose. At that point, Yosef is willing to unmask, & proudly "show off" his family to all of Egypt.
Chanuka – like the story of Yosef – is all about the tragedy that results when we are at odds with one another, & the miraculous things that can occur when we unite as a family, displaying our love for all the world to see.
As we here in Israel (here we go - again!) enter into pre-election mode, I shudder to hear all the rancor & ugly rhetoric that is already being cast by some Jews upon their fellow Jews. Let us internalize the lesson of Yosef & the lesson of Chanuka, and cast OUR vote for those who unite - rather than divide – the nation. That would be the greatest pirsumei nisa of all.
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
