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HOLIDAY READING

Rabbi Dov Lipman

Can We Learn from the Greeks?

major component of the Cha- and within the context of a G-d-cen- candles, and by using the physical for
nukah story is Greek culture, tered world, that darkness changes to the spiritual we shine away the dark-
A which was the essence of the light. The most physical activities can ness of a physical world devoid of G-d
battle. The Greeks sought to force become the most holy when used in and spirituality.
the Jews into living according to their the service of G-d. A fascinating rep-
culture and the Maccabim fought to resentation of this idea emerges when The geographical location most suited
preserve Jewish culture and way of life. we add the letter צ, which symbolizes to fulfilling this delicate balancing act
righteousness, to ן ָ וָי, Greece. This of using the physical for the spiritual
Conflicting sources exist regard- combination creates the word ןֹוּי ִ צ, is the Land of Israel. The Or HaChaim
ing our tradition’s attitude towards which represents the Land of Israel (Vayikra 19:23) teaches that the act
Greece. On the one hand, our Sages and the highest level of spirituality. of planting, a mere physical act any-
equate Greece with “darkness.” On where else in the world, becomes a
1
the other hand, numerous sources mitzvah when done in the Land of
nah (Megillah 8b) teaches that a Sefer “” Greek society Israel. The Chatam Sofer (Sukkah
indicate a far more positive attitude
towards Greek culture. The Mish-
36a) agrees and goes even further,
represented complete
Torah can be written in either Hebrew darkness. They teaching that any physical trade
involving social welfare or building up
or Greek. The Gemara (Sotah 49b) the Land becomes a mitzvah in Israel.
relates that in Israel one should speak accomplished a lot
either Hebrew… or Greek. The Zohar but did so within a But whether one lives in Israel or in
(Shemot 237a) describes Greece as man-centered culture the Diaspora, the message of Chanu-
being a population “who are close to which used these kah and our battle against the Greeks
the path of emuna (true belief).” So is clear. The way to properly balance
which is it? Darkness or light? accomplishments the physical and spiritual in our lives
to champion the is to make sure our own lives are
Our tradition clearly sees real beauty G-d-centered and not man-centered.
in Greece and Greek culture and their greatness of man We must strive to make Torah study
mastery over various aspects of the and mitzvah observance the focal
physical world is significant. However, Greek society represented complete point of our existence and not some-
the Torah has defined parameters for darkness. They accomplished a lot but thing which we simply do on the side.
that significance. In Parashat Noach did so within a man-centered culture Let us make sure we involve ourselves
(9:27), “G-d gives beauty to Yefet,” which used these accomplishments in the physical world for the ultimate
(Yefet is the progenitor of Greece) to champion the greatness of man. goal of spirituality and closeness to
“and He will dwell in the tents of However, they were very close to G-d.
Shem.” That beauty only takes on true light. Their beauty and creativity
meaning and importance in the con- could proclaim the glory of G-d in a (Major components of this article are
text of a G-d-centered world as con- G-d-centered world. Thus, their lan- based on Patterns in Time by Rabbi Matis
Weinberg.)
noted by the “tents of Shem.” Phys-
ical beauty and man’s mastery over guage has a place in Jewish ritual and
life.
the world tend to drag people into a 1 See Bereishit Rabbah 2:4 and 44.
man-centered society which champi- That was the battle of Chanukah. Is
ons the greatness of man. While we the physical world an end to itself or a
can be proud of all our accomplish- means to the ultimate goal of spiritu-
ments, anything we do outside the ality and a connection to G-d?
context of G-d does not have any real
significance. In fact, without G-d, we We remember this when we use a
function in complete darkness and beautiful, physical Menorah, using the Rabbi Dov Lipman is a former MK and the
achievements have no value. How- most beautiful, physical olive oil, to author of seven books about Judaism and
ever, when channeled towards G-d do a mitzvah of lighting the Chanukah Israel.

For Judaism the greatest spiritual challenge is not so much finding G-d
38 | within oneself as finding G-d within the other, the stranger.
RABBI SACKS