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Chanukah Redux - "In those days at this time"

 We have all been consumed with the war forced upon our brothers and sisters in Israel, and the terrible suffering endured in the massacre of Shemini Atzeret (Simchat Torah in Israel) on 10/7, and all the subsequent troubles. Namely, the suffering of those murdered, tortured, and abused, the grief of the bereaved, the agony of the hostages and their families, the deaths of so many brave men and women fighting to defend G-d’s people on G-d’s land.

I write these words with candor, driven – as we all are - by great pain and hope, so do not judge me too harshly for the jagged edges herein.  I write this on the cusp of Chanukah, I think the parallels to our present situation are remarkable. Yes – “our” because our lives and fates cannot be sundered from the lives of those in Zion.. Jewish history does not repeat itself, but it spirals through time constantly returning to the same axis -but in different circumstances.  To use a geometric metaphor - we keep coming back at different points in time (Z axis)  to the same spiritual and national “co-ordinates” – (X and Y axis).

Here is how Maimonides writes about circumstances of Chanukah, I have placed what appear to be the parallels to the present in parentheses and italics: Laws of Megillah and Chanukah chapter 3:1 In [the era of] the Second Temple, the Greek kingdom issued decrees against the Jewish people, [attempting to] nullify their faith and refusing to allow them to observe the Torah and its commandments. (Did Hamas not attack and murder us on what should have been our most joyous holiday/) They extended their hands against their property and their daughters (Did they not assault so many women? ) They entered the Sanctuary, wrought havoc within, (The worst havoc since the Shoah) and made the sacraments impure (our communities are our sanctuaries which they defiled with their evil). The Jews suffered great difficulties from them, for they oppressed them greatly until the God of our ancestors had mercy upon them, delivered them from their hand, and saved them. The sons of the Hasmoneans, the High Priests, overcame [them], slew them (only solution for the truly murderously evil ones), and saved the Jews from their hand.

The troubles of the first Chanukah came about because the Jewish people was divided against itself. There were those eager to embrace the prevailing (Hellenist) paradigms, those tempted by the promise of being accepted by the elites of the prevailing societies and the blandishments of the externally beautiful but morally ugly prevailing cultures that surrounded them. This problem penetrated into the heart of the Land of Israel and even into the Holy  Temple.

During the era of that first Chanukah, a revolt against this beating down of our People, our Torah, and our Land began with Mattityahu and his sons, and then spread to almost all  the Jewish people. They came together and rededicated their commitment to Judaism and each other - and thereby - with G-d’s help- triumphed. Their renewal was not just political and security related. This was first and foremost a spiritual renewal, a rededication of their Judaism and a far greater commitment to each other.

Let’s do the same – let us be extra careful to enhance our unity and grow our mitzvot, prayer and Torah study. We are not in Israel to carry their burden, but we can help with charity, with activism, and most of all with our spiritual efforts. Ultimately our strength is in our Judaism. As written in book of Zechariah, the Shabbat Chanukah Haftarah says: Not (only by military) valor and not (just) by strength, but by My spirit,' says the Lord of Hosts." 

Our men and women in the Israel Defense Forces and all our people in the Land of Israel and throughout the world are strengthened and assisted by our increased dedication to our Judaism, and to each other. As the lights of Chanukah illuminate the darkness of night – so may our deeds, tefilot, and unity, bring G-d to turn this present darkness to light and redeem and uplift all the people of Israel beginning with our captives – and then continuing to the complete and final redemption.


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