Page 4 - HaMizrachi #15 2019 Chanuka USA

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and spiritual identity and – G-d forbid With a tiny group of untrained men, arguably the largest cadre of Torah
– vanishing as a distinct culture from the Hasmoneans not only defeated learners our people has ever had.
the platform of human history, the this huge army, but continued for And out of the desolate backwater of
fate of so many ancient nations. Had many years to fight even larger the Ottoman Empire, a small band of
this small Hasmonean family not forces continually sent to put down Zionist pioneers created the miracle
placed its finger into the rupturing the rebellion… and even greater of modern-day Israel. Reviving a
dyke, and not cemented the breach miraculous victories took place. The nation, reclaiming a land, rebuilding
of the tumultuous and raging waters Book of Maccabees recounts that: “On a country, revitalizing a language and
of cultural assimilation, the flame of the 25th day of the 9th month, which reigniting our spirit.
Torah and Jewish destiny may very is the month of Kislev, and on the very
well have been snuffed out forever. date that the heathens had profaned it Two powerful examples of the essence
(the Temple), on this very day was it of Jewish history and Divinely-
This one family stood up against dedicated afresh.” directed destiny. Of how so few can
the harsh decrees of the Syrian have such a deep impact on so many.
Greek King Antiochus Epiphanes, The reason we still observe Chanukah
who threatened to uproot every today, over two millennia later, is a
last vestige of authentic Jewish life. testament to the Maccabees’ display 1 Weidenfeld and Nicolson 1987, p. 585.
They attracted supporters and grew of incredible courage and faith, and 2 Devarim 7:6-8.
in number, sparked a revolution, their belief in the justice of the cause 3 Nevertheless, this verse – “the fewest of
rebuilt a Jewish sovereign state, of Jewish destiny. It was this that all peoples” – needs to be reconciled with
brought cultural independence to enabled them to prevail in the face of the multiple promises made to our forefa-
Judea and rededicated the Temple impossible political and military odds. thers of their progeny being compared to
the dust of the earth and stars of the sky,
in Yerushalayim. They succeeded in The few against the many. too numerous to count. There are many
not only stemming the tide, but in answers but I will just mention one. Rav
reinvigorating the Jewish people’s S.R. Hirsch (Bereishit 13:16) suggests that
belief in themselves and G-d, enabling THE HASMONEAN SPIRIT IN OUR TIME these promises refer to the eternal nature
of the Jewish people. All other nations,
them to survive and push back We live in a privileged generation while perhaps much larger in number in
the military, political and cultural which has seen a remarkable revival any particular generation, eventually die
onslaught of the dominant superpower of the Hasmonean spirit. After the out and cease to exist as a nation. Their
at the time. devastation of the Shoah – the horrific numbers are therefore finite. The Jewish
people, while small in number in every
murder of one-third of our people and generation, have a Divine promise to exist
Outnumbered by 20-1, Judah made the destruction of almost the entire eternally, outliving all the other nations.
the following remarkable speech Yeshiva world – we have witnessed Hence their collective numbers over all
before facing one of his many battles: two miraculous rebirths. Of Torah and generations are infinite.
“Victory in battle emanates not from of Israel. 4 First Book of Maccabees.
the multitude of numbers but rather
in the strength given from Heaven... A handful of surviving leaders rebuilt
whatever the will of Heaven be, so shall the world of Torah study over the Rabbi Doron Perez is the Chief Executive of
it transpire.” course of a few short decades into World Mizrachi
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חמש הכונח
Chanukah Sameach to all
our readers around the world!

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