VOLUME 113 NUMBER 8
Kislev 26, 5785
December 27, 2024
Parshas Mikeitz/Special Chanukah Edition
Candlelighting Time 4:24

Amidst all the revelry of Chanukah, the donuts, latkes, parties, and Chanukah gelt we sometimes might forget what it is all about. Of course, we light the Menorah for eight days commemorating the miracle that the oil lasted for eight days. But what was the war and fighting all about. Do we focus on the liturgy of the special insertion that we add on Chanukah or do we just zip through it. We mention that the Greeks attempted to eradicate our religious beliefs abolishing Torah study at the risk of death. We spin the dreidel and take the pot but do we recall why they did it? They endangered their lives to immerse themselves in the sea of the Talmud but have we recognized what our forebears endured? Perhaps a bit of reflecting upon their sacrifices would be a worthy pursuit!

In the medley Maoz Tzur that we sing after we light the Menorah we mention that the Greeks penetrated the walls of the Beis Hamikdash and ripped down parts of its sections. In fact, they made 13 breaches that were later repaired. After the Hasmoneans defeated the Greeks and restored the Beis Hamikdash, the Sages instituted that every morning the Kohanim would bow in front of every break that had been refurbished. What was their intent to breach the outer wall of the Beis Hamikdash and why in 13 places? Rav Gedalyah Schor former Rosh Yeshiva of Torah V’Daas offers a fascinating discussion upon this topic. The wall that the Greeks broke through was specifically placed there as a buffer between the Jewish populace that were inside and the non-Jewish visitors that came from all over. They were not allowed to enter beyond that wall. Therefore, they could not engage in absorbing the sanctity of the Beis Hamikdash which was set aside only for the Jewish people. The Greeks were disturbed that only we had that reserved connection. This demarcation between our nation and the rest of the world not only demonstrated our status of closeness to Hashem but by the same token, it denoted the separation of the nations of the world from Hashem. This was intolerable and when the Greeks had the opportunity, they terminated that distinction. The Sages instituted that we should prostrate daily opposite those original breaches extolling Hashem that we have been chosen from all the nations of the world to study Torah, perform mitzvos and draw near to Hashem through conducting ourselves in a plane that far exceeds the lifestyle of the rest of the world.     

They destroyed the dividing wall in 13 places corresponding to the 13 characteristics of compassion that we ascribe to Hashem when we daven for His mercy and kindness in our times of need. Those inherent ‘traits’ of Hashem that we identify with truly define our very nature and categorize our nation. Only the Jewish nation has this type of connection with Hashem and subsequently the Greeks attempted to eradicate this loftiness that is accrued to us. The small light of our Menorah brightens the vast darkness of this world that we reside in temporarily and when we kindle those tiny wicks a fire shoots out and inspires us to follow in the footsteps of greatness and majesty of our ancestors and assume their stance of closeness to Hashem. During the recitation of the insertion we speak about how the many were delivered into the hands of the few. Was it because they were so well trained in guerilla warfare. Obviously not, but rather Hashem clearly saw our determination to continue to be His people and observe his mitzvos no matter what the challenge. Therefore, we merited to eliminate an enemy stronger, larger and more powerful. The spark in our souls is illuminated and is strengthened when we realize the opportunity of eminence that Chanukah offers us.  

A BYTE FOR SHABBOS CHANUKAH

We mention that Hashem delivered the Greeks who were defined as defiled people into the hands of the pure, our nation. In war is that what always occurs? For our nation that truly does describe the nature of our triumph. When we adhere to the Torah then when we combat the enemy we are successful however if we ignore our incredible legacy and follow the ways of the nations of the world, then we are trounced. 

GOOD SHABBOS AND HAPPY CHANUKAH