Page 15 - HaMizrachi_Hanukkah_AUS_2020_Neat

GLOBAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS

Rabbi David Stav Rabbi Avraham Shapira zt”l
The Three

Foundational Mitzvot

n Al HaNissim, we say the Greeks G-d of Israel’ and regarding the verse,
sought to “violate the laws of Your “And behold a great terror of darkness
Iwill.” This expression shows that the fell upon him,” the Midrash explains
4
5
Greeks did not actually fight mitzvah that the Greeks fought against the
observance, but rather the root of that Torah, determined to cause a rift
observance, the Will of G-d. between the Torah and the people of
Israel.
Hence they decreed a ban against
Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh and circum- Hence the Maccabean victory over
cision: “And Antiochus answered and the Greeks was a victory for Torah
said unto his ministers... Let us rise and Bnei Torah over the kingdom of
upon them, and cut them off from Greece. Chanukah is therefore a hol-
the covenant which was made for iday of Bnei Torah, which is implied in
them: Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh and two places:
Mila” (Antiochus 7:11). The Greeks First, the victory of the Chashmonaim
1
waged war precisely against these is hinted upon in the blessing of
three mitzvot because they are the Moshe to the tribe of Levi: “Bless,
root of the Torah. O L-rd, his resources and favor his

The Maharal argues that the first undertakings. Smite the loins of his garment, to buy oil and lamps and
2
appearance of anything is also the foes and enemies so they rise no light them.” 7
6
root and purpose of the same thing, more.” Rashi comments: “Moshe saw
and includes everything about that that the Chashmonaim would fight Why does the Rambam consider
thing. This principle is clearly illus- the Greeks, and he prayed for them lighting Chanukah candles a pre-
trated in the Torah. The first man- since they would be few – 12 Chash- cious mitzvah? The Maggid Mishne
ifestation of the Torah is in these monaim and Eleazar – against several explains that his source is the above
three mitzvot, given even before the tens of thousands.” It is well known Gemara. In contrast to all the other
Torah was given: the mitzvah of cir- that Moshe’s blessing to the tribe mitzvot, for which we receive our
cumcision was given to our Avraham of Levi is guaranteed to all who set reward in the World to Come, upon
Avinu, the mitzvah to sanctify the themselves apart from the affairs of lighting the Chanukah candles we
New Moon was given to the Children the world for the purpose of studying receive our reward immediately
of Israel in Egypt and the mitzvah of the Torah. through our children becoming talmi-
Shabbat was given at Marah. All three Secondly, it is implied in the Gemara dei chachamim. A direct response to
of these mitzvot are the root and pur- (Shabbat 23b), when it says, “One who the Greeks’ intention to detach Am
Yisrael from Torat Yisrael.
pose of the Torah, and so the Greeks is accustomed to kindle lights will
sought to uproot them all. be rewarded with children who are Adapted from “Shiurei HaRav Avraham Sha-
pira on Ketubot and Kiddushin”.
The Greeks wanted to disconnect Torah scholars.” Rashi explains that
Israel from the Torah, for with- lights refer to Shabbat and Chanukah
out these foundational mitzvot, it is candles. 1 See also Sfat Emet, Miketz 5662, and Chanu-
kah, 5647 and 5648.
impossible to access its depths. They According to the Rambam: “The 2 Netzach Yisrael, 3 and other places.
did not want to destroy the Jews; precept of lighting the menorah is 3 Netzach Yisrael, 3 and other places.
they wanted to destroy Judaism, the exceedingly precious, and one should 4 Bereishit 15:12.
uniqueness of Am Yisrael. As the carefully observe it to acclaim the 5 Bereishit Rabbah, 44:17.
Midrash says, “‘darkness’ refers to miracle, ever praising and thanking 6 Devarim 33:11.
3
the Greek exile, which darkened the G-d for the miracles He has per- 7 Devarim 33:11
eyes of Israel with their decrees and formed for us. Even if one has noth-
would say to them: ‘write on the horn ing to eat except what he gets from Rabbi Avraham Shapira zt”l was the Ashke-
of the bull that you have no part in the charity, he should borrow, or sell his nazi Chief Rabbi of Israel from 1983 to 1993.

Judaism is about relationships. The Greeks asked, What exists? Jews
asked, What is the relationship between the things that exist? | 15
RABBI SACKS