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TORAT MIZRACHI

Continued from page 3

Of course, Jewish life is rooted in our
belief in G-d and His Torah. Without
belief in G-d and acceptance of the
moral and spiritual laws revealed at
Sinai, we miss the mark of Jewish des-
tiny. It defines who we are and what
G-d wants from us. At the same time,
the G-dliness revealed to Avraham
very clearly and profoundly includes
both a national and a universal ethos.

The principle of Am Yisrael, our col-
lective responsibility and destiny, is Jewish beliefs and traditions. People people (and a great believer in every
critical to the Jewish story. from a national-religious background individual Jew), and a defender of
tend to agree with this basic premise Israel while conveying Torah values in
Yes, G-d revealed himself to one man, but laud the additional component of the broadest, most inspiring, univer-
who became the founder of a singular the political and military leadership sal and engaging way?
people given a particular land and a role adopted by the Hasmoneans and
distinct set of laws to fulfill their pur- the restoration of Jewish sovereignty. Rabbi Sacks had the Avraham-like
3
pose in this world. ability to uplift the hearts and minds
People from the nationalist camp of all people, regardless of their reli-
Yes, Jewish particularism and people- view the Hasmoneans as the mili- gious beliefs and political affiliations.
hood is at the heart of Judaism. One tary-oriented Maccabees who stood He was a giant of a man encapsulat-
cannot separate Judaism from the up to defend their people and fight for ing – as only he could – the three-
Jewish people. independence, while liberals read the pronged essence of Judaism – spiri-
story as a fight for religious tolerance.
Yet at the same time, G-d demanded The oppressive Hellenist regime was tual, national and universal.
that Avraham be a source of bless- discriminating against the Jews and We are therefore humbled and hon-
ing to all people. Jews are part of the so they had the right to fight for their ored to dedicate our HaMizrachi Cha-
family of nations because G-d wants freedom. nukah Edition to the life, teachings
us to be a source of spiritual blessing and legacy of Rabbi Lord Jonathan
and moral light to all. To love and Whose reading of history is correct? Sacks zt”l, who made a beautiful and
respect all those created in the image Undoubtedly, all have an element vibrant Judaism so accessible and
of G-d and be a proactive force in a of truth. All capture a part of what inspiring for us all.
universal mission for the greater good the Chanukah legacy is and how the
of all of humanity. flames of the rekindled Menorah
represent the contrasting yet com-
Hence there is no comprehensive plementary torches of our collective 1 See Rashi, Bereishit 18:4.
definition of Judaism without inte- Jewish mission. 2 See Orot HaTechiya, 18.
grating all three elements into one 3 Indeed, the Rambam (Laws of Chanukah, 1:1)
harmonious whole. Is there anyone in our generation who mentions both these achievements of the Has-
moneans. Salvation from the Greek regime at
has embodied these three Abrahamic the time reversed the oppressive decree against
Interestingly, these same three prisms values more than Rabbi Lord Jona- Torah observance and restored Jewish sover-
shape the way exponents of different than Sacks zt”l? eignty for over 200 years until the destruction
ideologies tend to relate to the story of the Second Temple.
of Chanukah. Is there anyone else who has inte-
grated so holistically a deep and
Religious people tend to interpret unswerving commitment to Jewish
Chanukah exclusively as a fight for the faith and Torah while simultane- Rabbi Doron Perez is Executive Chairman
primacy of Torah and Mesorah, our ously being a great lover of the Jewish of the Mizrachi World Movement.

4 | Society does not belong to any of us, but to all of us. It is the home we build together.
RABBI SACKS