Page 11 - HaMizrachi #25 Chanuka 2020 USA

TORAT MIZRACHI

Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon Rabbanit Sharon Rimon

Appreciate the

Miracles

hat is Chanukah?... When the victory over the Greeks is the main the splitting of Yam Suf, the various
the Greeks entered the reason for celebrating the holiday, miracles in the desert, the miracles
“WSanctuary, they defiled every military victory can be explained of Eliyahu and Elisha, and also
all of the oils. When the Chashmonai naturally. The importance of the with Chanukah. When the Jews
dynasty arose and defeated them, they miracle of the cruse of oil is that it are in severe distress, physically or
searched but only found one cruse of oil teaches us G-d’s role in the miracle of spiritually, there is a need for a miracle
which retained the stamp of the Kohen the military victory. to save them from their suffering, or to
Gadol, and which contained enough oil This idea is significant not only for
to light for no more than one day. A mir- Chanukah but for our everyday life. prove G-d’s Providence and existence
acle occurred, and they lit from the oil The Ramban explains that the purpose in the face of the heresy that rules the
for eight days. The next year, they insti- of the revealed miracles of the Torah world.
tuted those days as a holiday of praise is so we understand that every single Should we hope for revealed miracles?
and thanks.” (Shabbat 21b) thing that happens, happens through No. As we have mentioned, revealed
Why did our Sages choose to G-d. So we can acknowledge the miracles were performed during times
emphasize the miracle of the oil miracles and wonders that G-d does of crisis. In good times, G-d reveals
more than the miracle of the military for us each day. Himself to us through nature. In good
victory? The miracle of the victory times, we act on our own, and we feel
is what saved the Jewish nation, an “” Why did our Sages G-d’s Hand on our shoulder.
incredible marvel of the few against choose to emphasize
the many that changed the face of We are privileged to celebrate
Jewish history. If so, isn’t it more the miracle of the oil Chanukah in an uplifting reality
appropriate to mention that as the more than the miracle in which Am Yisrael have the
essence of Chanukah? of the military victory? opportunity to live in their homeland,
This question is magnified in light of Medinat Yisrael, with a strong Israel
the text of םי ִּ סִּנ ַ ה ל ַ ע, which specifically Defense Forces.
emphasizes the victory over the When we light Chanukah candles
Greeks: “You delivered the strong into It seems we can delve even deeper in and contemplate their light, let
the hands of the weak, the many into explaining this. Sometimes we expect us remember the cruse of oil and
the hands of the few, the impure into a miracle to save us from a certain G-d’s great love for us. That is what
the hands of the pure, the wicked into situation, or to prove G-d’s existence protects us from generation to
the hands of the righteous, the wanton or love for us. This stems from the
into the hands of the diligent students premise that a miracle is a high level generation, every hour and every
of your Torah. For Yourself, You made of connection with G-d. Indeed, a moment. Recognize the Hand of
a great and holy Name in Your world, miracle is an overt Divine intervention G-d that guided us in the war of the
and for Your people Israel you worked that changes the order of nature. G-d’s Chashmonaim, that guides us in
a great victory and salvation as this presence is very obvious in miracles. the process of the redemption we
very day. Thereafter, Your children However, when we focus on miracles are privileged to be part of, and that
came to the Holy of Holies of Your that G-d has performed for Am illuminates our path morning, noon
House, cleansed Your Temple, purified Yisrael, we discover something and night.
the site of Your Holiness and kindled fascinating. Miracles were performed
lights in the courtyards of Your during periods of hardship and Rabbanit Sharon Rimon teaches Tanach
Sanctuary.” suffering, not during the better times. and is Content Editor for the HaTanakh
The Maharal explains that although So it was with the 10 Plagues and website.

To be a Jew is to be part of a history touched, in a mysterious
yet unmistakable way, by the hand of Providence.
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