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From Sukkot to Chanukah:

Restoration of Spirit

Rabbanit Shani Taragin

he choice of name for Israel’s current So I promised you when you came out of bones, a people massacred and mutilated.
war, “Swords of Iron,” was selected Egypt, and My spirit (ruach) is still in your Hashem implores:
to broadcast the IDF’s goal of erad- midst. Fear not!” (Chaggai 2:1–5). “Prophesy to the breath (ruach), prophesy,
Ticating the terrorist organization Chaggai continued to encourage the lead- O mortal! Say to the breath: Thus said the
Hamas, whose emblem shows two crossed ers of the generation to wage war against Sovereign G-d: Come, O breath, from the
swords in front of the Dome of the Rock Israel’s enemies to secure military and four winds, and breathe into these slain,
in Jerusalem framed by two Palestinian political success. On the 24th of Kislev that they may live again… You shall know,
flags with the Islamic oath and creed, 520 BCE, he assured them that with the O My people, that I am G-d, when I have
Shahada. I prefer, however, to call our cur- foundation of the second Beit HaMikdash opened your graves and lifted you out of
rent national operation “Mashiv HaRuach, they would witness agricultural success, your graves. I will put My breath into you,
Restoration of Spirit.” Instead of referring miraculous victories, and reestablish- and you shall live again, and I will set you
to the outbreak of the war on Simchat ment of monarchy. He chose the winter upon your own soil“ (Yechezkel 37:9, 13–14).
Torah, forever diminishing the joy of the solstice, the longest night of the year and
day, “Mashiv HaRuach” alludes to the over- the time of greatest darkness, to instill the The juxtaposed prophecy foretells the
lapping date of Shemini Atzeret in Eretz nation with the hope of sovereignty and unity of the Jewish people – “I will make
Yisrael, when we began adding “Mashiv redemption. them a single nation in the land, on the
HaRuach u’Morid HaGashem, Who causes hills of Israel, and one king shall be king
the wind to blow and the rain to fall.” It Unfortunately, Zerubavel and his suc- of them all. Never again shall they be two
reminds us of this war's spiritual goal – to cessors did not initiate any apocalyptic nations, and never again shall they be
restore our national spirit of unity and wars. Still, Chaggai’s prophecy echoed in divided into two kingdoms” (37:22).
security in our Divinely promised Land. the hearts and consciousness of the Has- When the Chashmona’im rededicated
moneans, who in 168 BCE defeated the
Not only do we add this phrase to our forces of the Seleucid king Antiochus IV the Mikdash with the ruach of the meno-
daily amidah in the blessing of “mechayeh Epiphanes and rededicated the altar of rah, they celebrated for eight days with
haMeitim” (Hashem’s power to revive the olive branches, as they could not celebrate
dead) beginning on the eighth day follow- the Beit HaMikdash on the anniversary of Sukkot properly due to the defilement the
Chaggai’s prophecy followed by eight days
ing Sukkot, but it was also prophesied by mizbe’ach (Maccabim Bet 10:9). This Chanu-
the prophet Chaggai on the seventh day of celebration from the 25th of Kislev. kah, may we merit to complete the joy of
of Sukkot in 520 BCE, Hoshana Rabbah, They chose to broadcast their miraculous Sukkot and Simchat Torah as our nation-
the day before Shemini Atzeret when the victory specifically with the lighting of the al-religious spirit is restored!
war began: menorah to highlight the restoration of the
spirit of Hashem promised by both Cha-
“On the twenty-first day of the seventh
month, Hashem’s word came through the ggai and his contemporary, the prophet
prophet Chaggai: Speak to Zerubavel son Zechariah: “I see a lampstand all of gold,
of Shaltiel, the governor of Yehudah, and with a bowl above it... This is the word of
to the high priest Yehoshua son of Yehot- Hashem to Zerubavel: Not by might, nor
zadak, and to the rest of the people: Who is by power, but by My spirit (ruchi) – said
there left among you who saw this House Hashem of Hosts.”
in its former splendor? How does it look to This year, in the midst of war, as we light Rabbanit Shani Taragin
you now? It must seem like nothing to you. the menorah on the 25th of Kislev as an is Educational Director of Mizrachi
But be strong, O Zerubavel – says Hashem assurance and fulfillment of Hashem’s and the Director of the Mizrachi-TVA
– be strong, O high priest Yehoshua son “ruach” in our midst, we are reminded Lapidot Educators’ Program.
of Yehotzadak; be strong, all you people of the restoration of spirit prophesied by
of the Land – says Hashem – and act! For another prophet, Yechezkel. A prophet in A member of the Mizrachi Speakers Bureau
I am with you – says Hashem of Hosts. the Diaspora, Yechezkel sees a valley of dry mizrachi.org/speakers

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