Today, more than ever, we are at risk of being overcome by
the appeal of the misyavnim. The Greeks, as opposed to
all our other enemies, did not seek to destroy the Bais
Hamikdosh. All they wanted to do was to emphasize its
structural beauty as a manmade artistic edifice and eliminate
all spiritual elements by removing Hashem from its midst.
Their goal was to rip out the heart, all spiritual
attachment, and revel in its outward shell of wisdom and
culture. To be impressed by the trappings, style and human
intelligence. The Greeks, as the Americans today, believed in
G-d. But because of their inability to humble themselves to
accept truths beyond their scope of knowledge, they chose to
proclaim that G-d, after creating the world, had retired to
heavenly lofts and left the world for mankind to control and
develop independently. All progress was, therefore, dependent
on man's intellect and power.
Likewise, the American dream of opportunity for all men to
determine their wealth, success and happiness according to
their efforts, is actually a continuation of the Greek
philosophy idolizing control by man. The success of
technological advancement and scientific inventions is
attributed to man's greatness.
The truth of Hashgocho protis personified by the
Jewish way of life is the antithesis to the Greek ideal. They
could not tolerate mitzvos such as Shabbos, mila, and
rosh chodesh that represent not only the idea that
spirituality is an integral part of life, but even more so,
the fact that Jews attest to the fact that there is only
Hakodosh Boruch Hu and even the physical sphere is
just a tool to glorify His Name, thereby unifying heaven and
earth in the proclamation of "Hashem echod."
Their main battle, however, was against the Torah shebe'al
peh, which requires humbling oneself to accept concepts
that are beyond comprehension because of the realization that
human intellect is far inferior to Divine knowledge. The
Torah shebichsav is coded in a way that leaves room
for misinterpretation, whereas the Torah shebe'al peh
dictates practical applications which obligate one to
conform. The Greeks could not admit their limitations, could
not accept that which they could not understand. They
therefore sought to destroy involvement in this Torah.
Hundreds of years before the Chashmonaim, it was Yaakov Ovinu
who prepared the foundation for our victory. In parshas
Vayishlach, when Yaakov Ovinu recrossed the Yabok River
to retrieve some forgotten vessels, the Torah relates,
"Vayivoseir Yaakov levado."
The Beer Moshe reveals that "vayivoseir" actually
signifies the spiritual conquest that Yaakov Ovinu perfected.
"Vayivoseir" can be derived from the root
"nosar" -- superfluous. Yaakov Ovinu paved the way for
all future success by succumbing totally through utter
humility, realizing that there is no other existence but
Hashem and that even Yaakov Ovinu, as an independent being,
was totally superfluous.
All great qualities and accomplishment are a gift from
Hashem. Thereafter, Yaakov Ovinu forged his middas
ho'anovoh into a physical souvenir of pure shemen
zayis by levado, whose Hebrew letters are related
to a beis habad where olive oil is manufactured. These
first drops of olive oil, saturated with the trait of utter
submission, were sealed as the pach shemen later
discovered by the Chashmonaim hundreds of years later,
untainted by the Greeks' pursuit to defile all that was pure.
It was this olive oil that burned consecutively for eight
days, miraculously, proving that it is only Divine
intervention that effects any results.
When Yaakov Ovinu had perfected this trait, suddenly the
angel of Eisov, the yetzer hora, or the Mal'ach
Hamoves, struck up a battle with Yaakov Ovinu. They
fought through the spiritual challenges of shmad,
Communism, democracy and materialism, until alos
hashachar, the times of Moshiach -- and Yaakov Ovinu won.
"Vayar ki lo yochol lo," then he saw that he could not
overpower him.
Therefore, in one last attempt to make an inroad to destroy
Am Yisroel and shake them from their belief in
Hakodosh Boruch Hu and attachment to Torah, vayiga
bekaf yereicho, he struck his thigh. The yetzer hora
cunningly gave one last blow and succeeded in harming
Am Yisroel in a most dangerous manner that left Yaakov
Ovinu limping. In fact, until this day we are sagging under
this blow.
What brilliant idea did the yetzer hora have to
disconnect the Jews from Hakodosh Boruch Hu in order
to destroy the foundations on which the world exists?
Every limb has a parallel spiritual trait that it represents.
The kaf hayerech depicts middas hahod, awesome
glory. The source of all beauty and intricate art is
Hakodosh Boruch Hu, who created it. The Jews, through
this trait of hod, are meant to reveal and refer all
brilliant, striking and breathtaking creations to their true
Source, Hakodosh Boruch Hu.
Why is beauty necessary? Beauty is what appeals to us and
draws our heart to seek closeness. The awesome creation is
meant to create an attraction to seek connection with its
Master Artist, Hakodosh Boruch Hu. Beauty generates
enthusiasm and devotion. As soon as we suffered this
devastating blow to misconstrue the trait of hod, it
caused a lack of appeal and desire for serving Hashem.
Instead of referring beauty to its true Source, the Greeks
introduced an alternative: to revel in external beauty,
extolling man's greatness and creativity. The Beis
Hamikdosh signified to them nothing more than a stunning
work of art, devoid of its inner true beauty, its heart.
Many Jews also became intoxicated with beautification of man
and enthralled by human accomplishment. They became self-
centered, lavishing much attention to their attire and style,
to develop their physical attributes to glorify themselves.
This distracted them from their dedication to serving Hashem,
thus began the era of the misyavnim.
The Chashmonaim were Cohanim. Aharon Hacohen
personified the true middas hahod, which means that
all beauty is meant to glorify Hashem. The clothes of the
Cohanim were beautiful, intricate masterpieces,
signifying that the place for beauty was in the Beis
Hamikdosh to reveal Hashem as the Source of beauty.
Therefore, it was precisely the Cohanim who organized
the battle against the mighty Greek empire.
The strategy was one founded by Yaakov Ovinu of utter
humility and submission to Hashem's omniscience and
omnipotence. If we fight relying only on Hashem's Divine
power, then success is possible even for a handful of
citizens against the sophisticated army of a superpower. The
victory of the Chashmonaim symbolized our inherent power in
any subsequent conflict.
"Vayiga bekaf yereicho" -- these words hint to our
eternal victory. Vayiga has the same numerical value
as Chanukah. On that day of Chanukah, we learned the secret
through the bekaf, which backwards reads
bepach, the flask of oil that Yaakov Ovinu prepared
through the trait of humility, referring all power and
greatness only to Hakodosh Boruch Hu. To be blinded by
man's strength and extol his virtues brings inevitable
destruction. To realize our true limitations and express
utter dependence on Hashem leads to victory.
The miraculous lights returned the focus to the Heart of the
world. Who runs every functioning detail continuously. They
proved that those who reveal this hidden truth and act upon
it can merit supernatural success. The miracle occurred
specifically via the lights of the Menora which was
what spread insight into the Torah shebe'al peh. Since
mastering the Torah shebe'al peh depends on
incorporating Divine comprehension, the Menorah, which
revealed the true light of the world, assisted all in
clarifying deep concepts. It was the victory of the Torah
shebe'al peh.
The beauty of the magnificent Creation is not meant as an end
to itself; it is a means to reveal its inner truth and
attract its spectators to draw close and desire connection
with its Creator.
The message of Chanukah is hinted in the Torah. The 25th word
of the Torah is ohr, in the posuk, vayehi ohr.
The creation of light on the first day was not sunlight,
which was created on the fourth day. This light was a
brilliant light revealing Hashem's glory, which shone for 36
hours until Hashem created the sun and thereafter hid His
glory to benefit only the tzadikim who are worthy.
This supernatural light, revealing truth, was hidden in the
36 Chanukah candles in eight days that correspond exactly to
the 36 hours.
Vayiga bekaf yereicho -- we suffered a terrible blow,
that in the era preceding the alos hashachar, the
coming of Moshiach, Am Yisroel is distracted and
dazzled by the external beauty of the secular lifestyle
idolizing man's physique and progress. But the miracle of
Chanukah unfolds the only path to true success by penetrating
the misleading trappings and uncovering the inner Source of
true beauty and success.
The place for intellect and beauty is to glorify and serve
Hashem according to His desire to reveal His awesome
Presence. Humility and tznius are the formula for the
miraculous olive oil manufactured by Yaakov Ovinu, our tools
for endless victory.
Our Chanukah candles proclaim our eternal message that is
meant for each of us to absorb and incorporate. The true
Light of the world is Hashem echod, and all who devote
themselves to functioning solely on this truth of living with
the reality of Hashem's oneness, where we have no other
independent existence other than fulfilling His will,
undoubtedly will merit the supernatural bliss with the coming
of Moshiach.
