Page 12 - HAMIZRACHI #5-Chanuka-USA-flipbook_Neat

Rabbanit Sharon Rimon Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon

EIGHT DAYS OF

MULTIPLE MEANING

T he festival of Chanukah in G-d throughout the world – has a powerful message. It was a war

instituted
was
tremendous significance. Therefore,
following
of the few with makeshift weapons
victory
the
Hasmonean’s
over the Greeks, as described in the it is again no coincidence that the against the many with the most
lighting of the Menorah is central to
advanced military technology. In this
first Book of the Maccabees. These the Chanukah story, as is the finding war it became unquestionably clear
events occurred after the Tanach was of the oil and the subsequent miracle. that victory had nothing to do with
completed, and so Chanukah does not Jews throughout the centuries have physical might but with G-d’s power.
appear in the Tanach. lit Chanukiot at the entrance to
or inside their homes throughout The same idea appears in Gideon’s
However, the date of the 24th of he generations, symbolizing the war against Midian, in which G-d asks
Kislev, the eve of Chanukah, does continuation of this dissemination of Gideon to go out to war with a small
appear in the Tanach, as “the day when the light of faith all over the globe. army, and promises him: “…through
the foundations of the Sanctuary were the three hundred men who lap shall I
1
laid;” the day upon which they began The Hasmoneans’ dedication of the save you and I shall deliver Midian into
to build the Second Temple. Temple also symbolizes the power your hand,” and again when Saul’s
3
of the Jewish spirit. Am Yisrael son, Jonathan, goes out to fight alone
The prophet Chaggai rebukes the were facing the danger of cultural
people for not yet having built the assimilation, and up rose Matityahu against the Philistines: “…for nothing
Mikdash (Temple), and encourages and his sons to declare “Whoever is for prevents G-d from saving, whether
4
them to do so despite the great G-d, join me,” just as Moshe Rabbeinu through the many or through few.”
challenges involved. In the context declared at the Golden Calf. 2 Therefore, Chanukah is not just
quoted above, he prophesies that an historical commemoration of
in merit of laying the foundations The battle against idol worship a specific war in which the Jewish
for G-d’s Sanctuary, the Almighty and cultural-religious assimilation people conquered its enemies, but a
will bless the people with material- started immediately after the people festival with multiple and rich spiritual
agricultural abundance. received the Torah and has continued
throughout history. It happened meanings, containing the solid
So it is no coincidence that the during the reigns of kings Yehoash, foundation blocks for the heroism of
re-dedication of the Mikdash in Chizkiyahu and Yoshiyahu, during the Jewish spirit, faith in G-d, and the
Hasmonean times also occurred on which there was a major religious dissemination of that faith throughout
the exact same day that they began to revolution, which included a cleansing the entire world.
build the Second Temple. of the Temple and the Land from idol
worship, and it continued in the days 1 Haggai, 2:18.
The Mikdash stands at the heart of of the Hasmoneans, who were forced
the Chanukah miracle. It is supposed to fight the Jewish Hellenists. 2 Exodus 32:26.
to be a spiritual center for all nations, 3 Judges 7:7.
and the light of the Menorah, shining This is Am Yisrael’s perpetual struggle: 4 Samuel 1, 14:6.
outwards from within, is meant to to uphold its spiritual identity and
illuminate the whole world and spread resist the adoption of foreign cultures;
faith in G-d. a struggle we are all very familiar with
today as well.
Am Yisrael’s ability to bring oil Rabbanit Sharon Rimon teaches Tanach
and light the Menorah – and hence Not only that, but the Maccabees’ and is Content Editor for the Herzog
become partners in disseminating faith war against the Greeks also carries Tanach website: www.hatanakh.com/en

12