Page 43 - HaMizrachi #25 Chanuka 2020 USA

HOLIDAY READING

Rabbi Zev Leff Rabbi Berel Wein

The Children’s Holiday

ow there is not much new or Jewish tradition and the Rabbis of the to de-legitimize the State of Israel and
brilliant left to be said about Mishnah took an amazing event that our rights to our ancient homeland. If
Nthe holiday of Chanukah, many people would look at as being the wonder of it all is lost and forfeited
right? Many old and grizzled rabbis ordinary or natural and restored it to then so is our struggle for existence
like yours truly would probably agree its truly wondrous state. The story and independence. Chanukah is a pure
with that statement. Over 50 years of of Chanukah is that of a small and wonder and hence its importance and
writing and speaking about Chanu- apparently weak nation overcoming a relevance to us in today’s world.
kah should pretty much exhaust the mighty army of a world empire. Perhaps more than other holidays of
topic, shouldn’t it? But then again, that It records a triumph of monotheism the Jewish year, Chanukah is a chil-
would be selling Chanukah short. and Jewish tradition over pagan cul- dren’s holiday. Tradition allows even
There is always a different and new ture and practices, of the small, pure the youngest to light the Chanukah
insight that illuminates all the holidays lights in the Temple that overcame candles, to play dreidel, to taste latkes
and Chanukah is certainly no excep- the flaming torches that were far from and sufganiyot, to have time off from
tion. I was reminiscing with myself pure, and of the vitality and resilience school and to observe the holiday
(something that old grizzled rabbis do of Israel over those who would wish to through the eyes and senses of a child.
often) about my own life and past. I snuff it out of existence. It is all won- Children still retain their sense of
was amazed to again realize that some- drous but only if one views it all as wonder and imagination. Their world
how a lawyer from Chicago ended up being wondrous. is not usually bound by the practicali-
being a Rabbi in Jerusalem. How did ties, realism and sometimes pessimism
this happen? And how did the Jewish of their elders. Everything in life is still
State itself happen – not in terms of new and unexpected, worthy of curi-
history, facts, personages, dates, places osity and examination. Theirs is yet a
and wars but in the amazing fact that magical world, even a spiritual world,
such a country flourishes and pro- viewed from a different plane of per-
gresses in spite of all odds, past and ception and thought.
present, against its existence? Therefore, Chanukah is the perfect
holiday for children for it requires this
Our Sages have taught us that people perspective – to be made wondrous,
to whom wondrous things occur do miraculous and thereby meaningful
not really recognize those events as In their holy perspective of Jewish and beneficial. Chanukah is not for the
being wondrous. It is part of the weak- life and events, our Sages elevated jaded and empty- spirited. Its candles
ness of human nature to have such the mundane and seemingly ordi- flicker only for those that see the fire
limited understanding. There has to nary to the realm of miraculous and of Torah, tradition and morality lying
be a flash of insight, a commemorative eternal. That is the main lesson Cha- beneath the waxy surface.
act, a tradition of being able to look nukah teaches us – we are a special One who is privileged and able to see
past the trees to the forest, a spirit of people who live a miraculous existence the wonder of the events that occurred
almost childlike wonder for the amaz- with constant wonder and yet it is all to us “in those days” will also be able to
ing to truly be believable in the eye encrusted in seemingly natural and discern the wonders that we encounter
and mind of the beholder. And I think ordinary occurrences. daily here in Israel “in our time.”
this is how we have to look at Chanu- To de-legitimize the story of Cha-
kah and the traditions and customs nukah and to treat it as just another Rabbi Berel Wein is Senior Rabbi of Beit
that so endear this eight-day festival to ancient war of the Grecian period is Knesset HaNassi in Jerusalem and Director
all of Israel. the same tactic the world uses today of the Destiny Foundation.

To be immortal all you need to do is engrave your values on the minds of your children.
RABBI SACKS
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