Page 44 - HaMizrachi #25 Chanuka 2020 USA

HOLIDAY READING

Rabbi Dov Lipman

Can We Learn from the Greeks?

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

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