VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 7

כסלו תש"ף TORAT ERETZ YISRAEL • PUBLISHED IN • DISTRIBUTED AROUND THE WORLD DECEMBER 2019

ISRAEL EDITION

WITH GRATEFUL THANKS TO THE FOUNDING SPONSORS OF HAMIZRACHI – THE LAMM FAMILY OF MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

RABBI HERSHEL SCHACHTER The Menorah: on why G-d ‘changed the rules’ CHANUKAH 8 Illuminating Facts PAGE 10 PAGE 16

RABBANIT SHANI TARAGIN Light in the Darkness: talks about antibiotic and probiotic education A Moving Story from

PAGE 7 Hanoch Teller PAGE 31 RABBI LORD JONATHAN SACKS highlights what really keeps Insight: the Jewish spirit alive PAGE 18 Wars Without, Wars Within RABBANIT RACHELLE PAGE 38 FRAENKEL tells two jokes to make one serious point Ashkelon Under Fire: PAGE 14 A Personal Account RABBI YOSEF ZVI PAGE 50 RIMON discusses feet and marketplaces nowadays PAGE 8

SIVAN RAHAV MEIR AND YEDIDYA MEIR with eight light and INSIDE! SPECIAL FEATURE IN ADVANCE OF THE 13TH SIYUM HASHAS: bright insights Who Really Initiated ? PAGE 22 PAGE 54

dedicated in memory of our late beloved zaidie ,ז"ל Aaron ben Moshe Menachem who always brought a ray of light and spark of joy to those surrounding him www.mizrachi.org [email protected] +972 (0)2 620 9000 Chairman Mr. Harvey Blitz Chief Executive Rabbi Doron Perez Educational Directors Rabbi Reuven Taragin Rabbanit Shani Taragin

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2 | TORAT HAMIZRACHI

Rabbi Doron Perez

THE IMPACT OF SO FEW ON SO MANY

here are less in the For me, one of the most profound children. Through their passionate world than a rounding error lessons of Jewish history is this belief in one G-d, a personal G-d of a Chinese population – so few can so deeply have who created us and the world for a Tcensus. an impact on so many. That purpose, the book lays the moral strength lies not in numbers foundations and spiritual building I read a few years ago that an but rather in the quality of blocks for an entire nation. acceptable mistake in such a census spirit. 20th century American is 30 million – double the number anthropologist, Margaret Mead, The Book of Shemot is about how of Jews in the world! Furthermore, made this point well when she this family gave birth to a people there are many more children in famously said, “Never doubt and nation whose redemption from first grade in China (approximately that a small group of thoughtful the clutches of Egyptian oppression, 20 million) than there are Jews. committed citizens can change its experience of Divine revelation Israel, one of the smallest countries the world; it is the only thing that and acceptance of the at in the world, can fit a whopping 460 ever has.” Sinai, would eventually transform times into China’s landmass! the moral and spiritual course of all This is perhaps the story of the of human history. Despite these figures, the Jewish people in a nutshell. remarkable fact remains that So few impacting so profoundly on this tiny people, of less than one An explicit verse in the Torah so many. fifth of one percent of the world’s highlights this very point where population, has impacted the course it states that we are the smallest of 2 THE HASMONEANS of humanity’s moral and spiritual all nations. The verse implies that history significantly more than the basis for being singled out for Nowhere is this more obvious than China and arguably more than any a unique Divine role is not a result in the Chanukah story. One man, other nation in history. Historian of numerical strength but is rather Matityahu the Priest, and his five Paul Johnson makes this point in the rooted in the realm of the spirit. It sons: Yehudah, Shimon, Yochanan, closing chapter of his monumental is linked to being an Am Segula – a Elazar and Yonatan – one small work, “A History of the Jews,”1 treasured people, which is a unique family known as the Hasmoneans, when summing up the great Jewish spiritual and deeply transformative changed the course of Jewish history contribution to the world: metaphysical trait facilitating the forever. An event which took place ability to impact far beyond a 2,300 years ago continues to echo “To them we owe the idea of 3 number quantum. into eternity. equality before the law, both Divine and human; of the ONE FAMILY, ONE PEOPLE It was a time of Greek world sanctity of life and the dignity domination, systematic global of the human person; of the This fundamental idea of so few acculturation and the assimilation individual conscience and so people having so great an impact of the inhabitants of the conquered of personal redemption; of the is at the heart of Jewish living nations and minorities throughout collective conscience and so of since time immemorial. Indeed, the Empire. Judea, the Jewish social responsibility; of peace as the whole book of Bereishit is country at the time, was heavily an abstract ideal and love as the the story of one family. Adam influenced by the enticing foundation of justice, and many and Eve and their children, Noah hedonistic lure of Hellenistic other items which constitute and his wife and children and the the basic moral furniture of the family of Abraham and Sarah, our Continued on page 4 human mind. forefathers and mothers and their • | 3 Continued from page 3

culture. The Jewish people were in With a tiny group of untrained men, over the course of a few short grave danger of losing their national the Hasmoneans not only defeated decades into arguably the largest and spiritual identity and – G-d this huge army, but continued for cadre of Torah learners our people forbid – vanishing as a distinct many years to fight even larger has ever had. And out of the culture from the platform of human forces continually sent to put down desolate backwater of the Ottoman history, the fate of so many ancient the rebellion… and even greater Empire, a small band of Zionist nations. Had this small Hasmonean miraculous victories took place. The pioneers created the miracle of family not placed its finger into the Book of Maccabees recounts that: modern-day Israel. Reviving a rupturing dyke, and not cemented “On the 25th day of the 9th month, nation, reclaiming a land, rebuilding the breach of the tumultuous which is the month of Kislev, and on a country, revitalizing a language and raging waters of cultural the very date that the heathens had and reigniting our spirit. assimilation, the flame of Torah and profaned it (the Temple), on this Two powerful examples of the Jewish destiny may very well have very day was it dedicated afresh.” essence of Jewish history and been snuffed out forever. The reason we still observe Divinely-directed destiny. Of how so This one family stood up against Chanukah today, over two few can have such a deep impact on the harsh decrees of the Syrian millennia later, is a testament to the so many. Greek King Antiochus Epiphanes, Maccabees’ display of incredible who threatened to uproot every courage and faith, and their belief last vestige of authentic Jewish life. in the justice of the cause of Jewish 1 Weidenfeld and Nicolson 1987, p. 585. They attracted supporters and grew destiny. It was this that enabled 2 Devarim 7:6-8. in number, sparked a revolution, them to prevail in the face of 3 Nevertheless, this verse – “the fewest rebuilt a Jewish sovereign state, of all peoples” – needs to be reconciled impossible political and military with the multiple promises made to brought cultural independence to odds. our forefathers of their progeny being Judea and rededicated the Temple compared to the dust of the earth and in Yerushalayim. They succeeded The few against the many. stars of the sky, too numerous to count. There are many answers but I will just in not only stemming the tide, mention one. S.R. Hirsch (Bere- but in reinvigorating the Jewish THE HASMONEAN SPIRIT ishit 13:16) suggests that these promises people’s belief in themselves and IN OUR TIME refer to the eternal nature of the Jewish people. All other nations, while perhaps G-d, enabling them to survive and much larger in number in any particular push back the military, political and We live in a privileged generation generation, eventually die out and cease cultural onslaught of the dominant which has seen a remarkable revival to exist as a nation. Their numbers are therefore finite. The Jewish people, superpower at the time. of the Hasmonean spirit. After while small in number in every gener- the devastation of the Shoah – the ation, have a Divine promise to exist Outnumbered by 20-1, Judah made horrific murder of one-third of eternally, outliving all the other nations. the following remarkable speech our people and the destruction of Hence their collective numbers over all before facing one of his many generations are infinite. almost the entire world – 4 First Book of Maccabees. battles: “Victory in battle emanates we have witnessed two miraculous not from the multitude of numbers rebirths. Of Torah and of Israel. but rather in the strength given from Heaven...whatever the will of A handful of surviving leaders Rabbi Doron Perez is the Chief Executive Heaven be, so shall it transpire.”4 rebuilt the world of of World Mizrachi

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Rabbi Reuven Taragin Rabbanit Shani Taragin

DAYS OF DUALITY

n its description of the origin of basic to our very existence. We re-ad- place in G-d’s world by instituting Chanukah, the Talmud1 men- mit this absolute dependency every hishtachavayot and hoda’a. They did tions both what the holiday morning when we open our eyes – so by using the two as the founda- tion of the Chanukah holiday, which ֶמודה ֲאִני ְלָפֶנ ָיך ֶמֶלְך ַחי ְוַקָּים ֶׁשֶהֱחַזְרָּת ִּבי Icommemorates as well as how it was initiated – “for a later year they commemorated the victory over the ִ נ שׁ ְ ָ מ ִ ת י. established and created the days as Greeks and Hellenism. holidays through and hoda’a.” – and are expected to remember it as For this reason, the Talmud7 formu- 2 long as we remain awake – The Sfat Emet points out that the lates the prohibition of benefiting ָ from the Chanukah lights not as an ָּכל ְז ַמן שׁ ֶ ַה ְּנשׁ ָ ָמה ְב ִקְר ִּבי מו ֶדה ֲא ִני ְל ָפ ֶניך... presents hallel and hoda’a (praise and gratitude) not as how Later in the morning, when we recite issur hana’a (prohibition of benefit), the holiday expresses itself, but as Modim, we reinforce our hoda’a with but as an issur hishtamshut (prohi- the foundations of its creation. Why hishtachavaya (bowing). Bowing is bition of use). While hana’a includes are hallel and hoda’a so central to a way of demonstrating our depen- benefit of any kind, hishtamshut spe- Chanukah? dency.4 We conclude our tefilot with cifically connotes the redirecting of While the institution of hallel , in which we highlight our an object for one’s personal use. Man reminds us of other Yamim Tovim, coupling of hoda’a with hishtacha- is meant to enjoy G-d’s world, but to the emphasis on hoda’a seems vaya as part of what distinguishes us realize that the world is about more unique to Chanukah. Understand- from other nations of worshippers – than just his pleasure. ably, when Al HaNissim (added to The HaNeirot Halalu song succinctly ׁ ֶש ֵהם ִמׁ ְש ַּת ֲחִוים ְל ֶהֶבל ָוִריק... ַו ֲאַנ ְח ּנו ּכוֹ ְר ִעים the bracha of hoda’a) describes the summarizes the prohibition’s nature ּו ִמׁ ְש ַּת ֲחִוים ּומוֹ ִדים ִל ְפ ֵני ֶמ ֶל ְך ַמ ְל ֵכי ַה ְּמ ָל ִכים. holiday’s goals, it mentions hoda’a and intent: first – We are different not only in who we ַהֵּנרוֹת ַהָּלּלו ֶקֹדשׁ ֵהם ְוֵאין ָלּנו ְרשׁ ּות ,serve, but in how we admit, recognize ָק ְב ּעו שׁ ְ ַמונת ְי ֵמי ֲח ֻנ ָּכה ֵא ּל ּו ְלהודות ּו ְל ַה ֵּל ל. ְלִהשְׁ ַּתֵּמשׁ ָּבֶהם ֶאָּלא ִלְר ָאוֹתם ִּבְלָבד, ְּכֵדי .and thank ְל ה וֹ ד וֹ ת ּו ְל ַה ֵ ּל ל ְל שׁ ִ ְמ ָך ַה ָ ּג ד וֹ ל. The shir shel yom psalm recited on Chanukah also emphasizes hoda’a: CHANUKAH – A TIME “These lights are holy and we have no FOR ADMISSION ָ permission to use them – only to look ְו ּהוֹדו ְלֵזֶכר ָקְדשֽׁוֹ... ֲה ְיוֹדך ָעָפר... ה' ֱאֹלַקי ְל ע וֹ ָל ם א וֹ ֶ ֽד ָּך.3 The Mishna5 tells of the Hasmonean at them, so we can thank and praise Your great Name.” HODA’A – GRATITUDE & ADMISSION institution of 13 hishtachavayot (accompanied by hoda’ot6) to offset 1 21b. The uniqueness of hoda’a lies in the the 13 Grecian breaches of the Beit Mikdash’s soreig – the marker of the 2 Sefat Emet, Sefer Bereishit, Vayeshev, word’s dual connotation – gratitude 638 D”H K’va’um. and admission. This duality accounts point in the Mikdash beyond which gentiles could not proceed. 3 Tehillim 30. for the word’s recurrence in the 4 Understandably, the Talmud (Bava Modim prayer: These breaches were a Hellenistic Kama 16a) asserts that the spinal cord denial of G-d’s (and, by association, of one who avoids bowing at Modim מוֹ ִד ים )admit( ֲאַנְח ּנו ָלְך ׁ ֶשַאָּתה הּוא ה' the Jewish people’s) unique holiness. transforms into a snake – the first to אֹלקינ ּו. suggest that man deny his dependence ֱ ֵ For them, Man was as great, if not .on G-d ְלדור ָודור ֶנודה )thank( ְּל ָך ּו ְנ ַס ֵּפר ְּת ִה ָּל ֶת ָך… greater, than G-d. The Greeks cele- 5 Midot 2:3. A meaningful thank you acknowl- brated Man. Their astronomy placed 6 See Rambam et al and Shekalim 17a. edges not only the assistance, but also Earth and Man at the center of the 7 Shabbat 21b. the capacity of the assistant. It recog- universe; their veneration of art sanc- nizes dependence on others and often tified Man’s determination of beauty; Rabbi Reuven Taragin is Educational admits one’s personal limitations. their mythology viewed the gods as Director of Mizrachi and Dean of the reflections of Man, and their deifica- Yeshivat HaKotel Overseas Program This aspect of admission needs to tion of the human body (in its natural [email protected] be most pronounced when thank- form) expressed their view of Man’s ing G-d. Although much of the aid perfection. received from mortals is of a non-es- Scan here to join Rabbi sential nature (i.e. we could have In response, the Hasmoneans sought Taragin’s WhatsApp group helped ourselves), G-d’s assistance is to restore Man’s perception of his with daily Divrei Torah 6 | Rabbi Reuven Taragin Rabbanit Shani Taragin CHANUKAH AND CHINUCH The Antibiotic vs. Probiotic Approach

he Talmud1 explains that the negative Hellenistic influences that standing on one foot.3 Shammai basic mitzvah of Chanukah is had infiltrated the Beit HaMik- pushed him away with a measuring for the head of the household dash and the entire Jewish culture. stick, believing that he must first dis- Tto kindle one light each night. The Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai differ play motivation to relinquish his evil mehadrin (those who are meticu- regarding the most effective means past before learning Torah. The same lous in the performance of mitzvot), of continuing to commemorate and gentile came before Hillel. He con- kindle a light for each member of counter the “darkness” and deter- verted him and said to him: “That the household. The mehadrin min rents in our path toward Avodat which is hateful to you do not do hamehadrin, who are even more Hashem. to another; that is the entire Torah, meticulous, adjust the number of The Maharal2 explains that on and the rest is its interpretation. Go ַ מ ֲ ע ִ ל י ן ַ ּב ּ ק ֶ ד ֹ שׁ lights daily. Beit Shammai and Beit Sukkot we ward off the influences study.” Hillel espouses a Hillel disagree as to the nature of of the 70 nations through bringing approach to Jewish education – teach that adjustment. Beit Shammai say: the equivalent number of sacrifices a little Torah and gradually increase On the first day one kindles eight and decreasing the number of bulls the student’s light as the darkness lights and gradually decreases the until we are left with one, symbolic automatically begins to fade. number of lights from thereon until, of Am Yisrael’s exclusivity. So too on Chanukah is an opportune time for on the last day of Chanukah, he kin- Chanukah, we continue to commem- us to revisit our methods of Chinuch. dles one light. And Beit Hillel say: orate our victory in a war against Beit Shammai’s “antibiotic” approach On the first day one kindles one the darkness of Hellenistic culture is based on the bulls brought in the light, and gradually increases the through lighting many lights in our courtyard of the Sanctuary. Perhaps number of lights until, on the last homes to combat the evil. As we combatting external influences is day, he kindles eight lights. minimize the darkness, fewer can- an efficient method to apply in the Ulla said: There were two Amoraim dles are needed day by day. This is public sphere, where bombastic in the West, Eretz Yisrael, who dis- Shammai’s “antibiotic” approach to measures are sometimes necessary agreed with regard to this dispute, Chinuch (education) – ward off the to ameliorate evil and darkness Beit Hillel’s application .( ּסור ֵמָרע ) Rabbi Yosei bar Avin and Rabbi Yosei “virus” of darkness through doses of is based on ַמ ֲע ִלין ַּב ּק ֶֹדשׁ ְו ֵאין מוֹ ִר ִד יין bar Zevida. One said that the reason light! As the darkness subsides, fewer of for Beit Shammai’s opinion was that antibiotics are necessary! According the showbreads offered in the inner the number of lights corresponds to Beit Shammai, we light according sanctuary. In the inner sphere of to the incoming days… the reason to the incoming days, anticipating a our homes, a more positive means for Beit Hillel’s opinion is that the better state (less negative influences) of edification is a gradual increase number of lights corresponds to the day by day. of light as we encourage our chil- ֲע ֵ ׂ הש) outgoing days. And one said that the Beit Hillel adopts a more “probiotic” dren to extend their strengths4 Chanukah lights are linked to .( ט וֹ ב reason for Beit Shammai’s opinion approach to strengthen us – people is that the number of lights corre- are naturally good and merely need the home – and thereby Beit Hillel’s sponds to the bulls of the festival of to boost their immunization against “probiotic” method of education is Sukkot (13 were sacrificed on the negative influences in a gradual deemed the more preferable! first day and one fewer was sacrificed manner, increasing the already-pres- on each succeeding day) and the ent light day by day, strengthening 1 Shabbat 21b. reason for Beit Hillel’s opinion is that and elevating themselves above those the number of lights is based on the around them. Each day one becomes 2 Ner Mitzvah II. principle that one elevates to a higher stronger, building one’s resistance 3 Shabbat 31a level in matters of sanctity and one against the surrounding influences 4 See Letters of the Lubavitcher , מעלין ּב ּקֹדשׁ וא ין .does not downgrade – ֵ ְ ֶ ַ ִ ֲ ַ through adding more light! Chanukah 1961 . מ וֹ ִר ִד י ןי A similar debate between their The lighting of the Menorah was approaches to Chinuch is recorded Rabbanit Shani Taragin is Educational not merely a manifestation of the regarding a gentile who asked Sham- Director of Mizrachi and the Director of military miracle against the Greeks, mai to convert him on condition he the Mizrachi Matan Lapidot Educators’ but also a means to overcome the be taught the entire Torah while Program [email protected] | 7 ASK THE RABBI

Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon Rabbanit Sharon Rimon Chanukah Candle Lighting in the Modern Age

he modern reality of artificial hour. If you didn’t light then, you The Rama agreed but added that lighting and of people’s can light up to half an hour after the it is still preferable to be stringent ever-changing habits pose emergence of three stars. Bediavad regarding the earliest possible times Tsignificant questions regarding the (after the fact), one can light the for lighting. best time for lighting Chanukah entire night until dawn. From these opinions, we under- candles. There are two explanations why stand that the determinant is the When I was a child in Tel Aviv, the lechatchila one should light at publication of the miracle, and since stores would close at 7:00 pm. After sunset or at the emergence of three the members of the household are that, the streets were deserted in stars: always around, candle lighting can many places, though there were be done at a later time (at least when 1. One who lights at the emer- areas busy in the later hours as well. needed). If, like today, people return gence of three stars does so In those days, there was hardly a from work later than the ideal time because the light from the can- soul in the streets of Yerushalayim to light candles, there is a case for dles is distinct (Mordechai, either at night time, not even in the saying that the time they return is Meiri). One who lights at sunset city center. the ideal time, because the publiciz- does so as now it is clear to all ing of the miracle will be greater. Today, both in Israel and overseas, that the lights are for the mitz- there are people walking around the vah and not for illumination Practically it is best and desirable to streets at all hours. Shopping malls, (Yereim). light at the onset (sunset or appear- restaurants and the entertainment ance of stars). In this way, all the 2. One who lights at sunset does culture mean that the streets are approaches are fulfilled lechatch- so as it is closer to the time full late into the night. ila, and we also merit entering the when the Menorah was lit in 3 darkness of night with the light of a Of course the reason I mention this the Beit HaMikdash. One who miracle, and echoing Temple times, is because the Talmud – and Hala- lights at the emergence of three when the Menorah was lit from the cha – tells us we should light can- stars does so in order to not start of the night. dles “from when the sun sets until light outside the Beit HaMik- there are no longer people in the 1 dash in a similar manner to When one needs to wait for the marketplace.” inside the Beit HaMikdash. whole family to light together, it Simply put, candles should be lit at seems possible to rely on the above sunset. Yet this is still the middle CAN ONE INTENTIONALLY explanations and delay, especially if of the day for many people. So how DELAY LIGHTING CANDLES? there will be more publication of the does modern life affect the time for miracle later. lighting candles? If there is a principled reason for lighting at the correct time (for There are those who put more oil or In this context, I will present a gen- example, showing that the lighting bigger candles in their Chanukiah eral overview. is for the mitzvah or as emulating so that the lights burn longer than half an hour and the miracle is pub- What does “from when the sun the Temple), candles must be lit at sets” mean? There is a disagreement this time. If there is no such prin- licized to more people for a longer among the poskim. According to ciple or the focus of lighting is for time. the Shulchan Aruch,2 we light at the publicizing the miracle (and most And the more holy light we can appearance of three stars. The Gra people will return home later), it bring to the darkness, the better! says we light at sunset (and so seem- will be possible to light later, when ingly does the Mishna Berura). people are returning home. 1 Shabbat 21b. How late can we light? Again, there Many Rishonim wrote that when 2 5672:1. is disagreement. The Shulchan lighting inside the house (and not at 3 See Pesachim 59a. Aruch says lechatchila (ideally) we the entrance to the street), it is not light at sunset or at the emergence necessary to light at a specific time Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon is Head of of three stars, and the candles as the only publicity for the miracle Mizrachi’s Shalhevet Educational should be alight for at least half an is to the members of the household. Advisory Board and Chairman of Sulamot

8 | Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon Rabbanit Sharon Rimon Light up the World

hanukah is a holiday for lighting, for kindling lamps light the Menorah. Israel returned celebrating the restoration continually.”1 The light of the to spread the light of the Torah. of the kingdom of Israel, Temple cannot spread on its own. And it is precisely then that the Ca holiday of tremendous political Only in partnership with the people miracle occurred. Why? salvation. So why not call it of Israel can the great light burst “Independence Day”? Why the forth and impact the world. During this time, the people of emphasis on the miracle of the oil Israel were in a state of depression, and lighting the Menorah? but they were trying to find and The miracle of victory over the connect with points of light. The people were making the effort, but Greeks was the great miracle in that was not enough. The impurity Hasmonean times, but the miracle was so great. It would be a long time of the cruse of oil is the miracle before the people could produce we remember today, every day of pure oil, so to speak, for they Chanukah. first had to undergo a process of The miracle of the cruse did extensive internal cleansing. not save the people of Israel However, because the people from distress but it did allow wanted to take the first step and the Menorah to be lit anew. The return to the worship of G-d in triumph over the Greeks meant the the Temple, G-d helped them to opportunity of worshipping G-d light the Menorah. The miracle openly again, so the purification was a “glimpse” of G-d expressing and re-enactment of Temple enlightenment, affection, and service were the essence of victory. Divine assistance following a course Therefore the holiday is not called of human action. “Independence Day,” in memory of a military victory and national liberty, The lit Menorah in the Temple but “Chanukah,” in memory of the miraculously illuminated and renewal of the Temple service. allowed the people to undergo the process of internal cleansing and of In other words, Chanukah is about re-lighting their internal light. At cultural and spiritual, rather than the end of this process, the people national, freedom. would be able to light the Menorah themselves, and once again earn the Lighting the Menorah signifies right to share the great light with the work of the Temple not only the world. because it was one of the acts of Temple service but because it has a After a spiritual confrontation between the people of Israel and symbolic meaning: the diffusion of 1 Shemot 27:20. light from the Temple outwards. Greek culture – when some of the people abandoned the Temple Furthermore, the Menorah was lit and turned to Greek culture – the with oil, and the Torah emphasizes Temple was darkened, and the that the oil was collected and Temple service ceased. When the brought to the Temple by the people of Israel rose, and returned Rabbanit Sharon Rimon teaches Tanach people: “instruct the Israelites to to the Temple, to the spiritual world, and is Content Editor for the Tanach bring you clear oil of beaten olives the first work upon return was to website www.hatanakh.com/en

| 9 Rabbi Hershel Schachter

These and Those

hen one asks a sheilah even though in practice we follow Accordingly, the entire Chanukah (halachic question) to the majority opinion.3 miracle was unnecessary. Tamei a Rav and receives a oil does not exist in the Beit ֵאּלּו ָוֵאּלּו ִּדְבֵרי ֱאֹלִקים psak (ruling), that psak is binding, The concept of HaMikdash! ַח ִּיים W because we assume that the Rav is particularly relevant to was correct in his ruling. This Chanukah. The Talmud discusses Acharonim explain that the halacha 4 assumption is based on the verse, the origin of the holiday: that Beit HaMikdash oil always The secret of G-d is remains tahor was in fact a subject“ ,סוֹ ד ה' ִל ֵר ָא ייו When the Greeks entered the [revealed] to those who fear Him.”1 of debate over several generations. It Heichal, they rendered all the flasks This verse is quoted by the Talmud2 is true that if the Chanukah episode of oil there impure. When Beit in this context, to demonstrate that would have occurred 100 years Chashmonai gained the upper hand G-d reveals the correct solution to later in the time of Yosi ben Yoezer, and vanquished them, they searched those who fear Him. G-d would not have performed the and found only one flask of oil with miracle, because according to the the Kohen Gadol’s seal still intact, accepted ruling at that time, the oil סוֹ ד ה' ִל ֵר ָא ייו If the principle of serves as the basis of our reliance containing only enough to kindle could not contract tumah and there upon a Rabbinical psak, how do [the menorah] for one day. A miracle would have been no need for the we understand the existence occurred with this oil, and they miracle. of machloket (disagreement) in kindled [the menorah] with it for halacha? If each Rav has a measure eight days. Nevertheless, in the era in which the of Divine assistance to enable him Chanukah episode did take place, to issue the correct psak, how can G-d is generally not interested the consensus was that the oil in disparate rulings ever exist? in changing the rules of nature the Beit HaMikdash could contract that He established at the time of tumah, and thus G-d performed the The Talmud answers this question Creation. The Rambam writes that miracle because of their psak. This the eight-day miracle was necessary ruling was later reversed when the ֵאּלּו ָוֵאּלּו ִּדְבֵרי ֱאֹלִק ים :with the phrase These and those are the words because this was the amount of majority opinion shifted and their“ , ַח ִּיים of the living G-d” (Eiruvin 13b). time necessary to manufacture and view was outvoted. For example, regarding the many transport additional tahor (pure) oil. disputes between Beit Shammai It turns out that the whole story 5 and Beit Hillel, we assume that both The Acharonim ask a most of Chanukah is truly fantastic. sides of the machloket have validity. basic question regarding the Remarkably, G-d changed the disqualification of the tamei rules of nature in deference to the ּ ! ֵא ּל ּו ָו ֵא ּל ּו ִ ּד ְבֵרי ֱא ִֹלק ם ַח ִייםי This does not mean that one has the (impure) oil. The Talmud teaches principle of option to follow either opinion. The that there is a machloket Tanna’im Adapted from “Rav Schachter on the halacha is usually in accordance regarding whether liquids contract Moadim.” with the opinion of Beit Hillel. tumah on a Torah level or only on a What it does mean is that when we rabbinic level. study Beit Shammai’s opinion, it 1 Tehillim 25:14. is equally considered a fulfillment The accepted opinion, based on 2 Sotah 4b, Sanhedrin 48b, Chagigah 3b, of the mitzvah of , Yosi ben Yoezer’s testimony, is 20b. because this opinion has legitimacy that liquids are susceptible to 3 See BeIkvei HaTzon, p. 259; See Nefesh as well. As long as both sides of the tumah only rabbinically, and this HaRav, 1994 ed., p. 41. machloket arrive at their positions rabbinic enactment was never 4 Shabbat 21b. Mor UKetziah, Orach Chaim, siman instituted regarding liquids in the 5 ִ מ ּ ד  ת שׁ ֶ ַ ה ּ ת ָ ר ה  by working with the 670; Beit Yitzchak, Orach Chaim, siman .Shoel UMeishiv, mahadurah 1, 3:42 ;110 , ִמשׁ ְ ֵקי ִּבי ַמְד ְּב ַחָּיא ְּד ַכן .exegetical principles Beit HaMikdash) ִ נ ְ ד ֶ ר שׁ ֶ ת ָ ּ ב ֵ ה ן through which the Torah is “The liquids [offered upon] the altar expounded), each is considered to (blood, water, wine, and oil) are Rabbi Hershel Schachter is Rosh have a bona fide point of view, and tahor.” Thus, the halacha is that the Yeshiva and Rosh Kollel at Rabbi Isaac each opinion constitutes a cheftza oil of the Beit HaMikdash does not Elchanan Theological Seminary of shel Torah (an “object” of Torah), contract tumah.

10 |

Rabbi Shalom Rosner Being a Jew Inside and Out ur doorway is our bridge to Yet, in the privacy of their own Yosef epitomizes this message. In the outside world. It is the home, when nobody is watching, the his epic struggle with Potiphar’s place of transition between standards are forgotten. wife, he controls his urges and The . ְ מ ַ ק ֵ ּ ד שׁ שׁ ֵ ם ָ ׂש ִ מ י ם our public, society- centered life, privately was O 1 and our private family-focused life. These two behaviors, says Rabbi Talmud tells us that his father’s Throughout the year, we place one Benjamin Blech, are what Chazal image, symbolizing his religious religious marker at this crucial exit had in mind when they enacted upbringing, appeared to him. and entrance point – our mezuzah. the mezuzah on the right and the Yosef knew the message of the chanukiah on the left. The mezuzah mezuzah. He practiced his On Chanukah, we position another is on our right upon entering our in private. Yet later on, we also object in our doorway, opposite home. observe that Yosef, though the the mezuzah – the chanukiah. only Jew in the entire country of Why does the Talmud demand As we transition from our social Egypt, was not fearful to behave specifically to place it in the public domain into our private in a unique manner. The Torah2 doorway, opposite the mezuzah. domain, we take note of the tells us that Yosef’s master saw What is the deeper message behind mezuzah, which reminds us that that G-d was with him. Rashi these two mitzvot? G-d is always watching, and we always have a standard of behavior comments that Yosef constantly Living in our open society, we to live up to, even if no human being invoked the name of G-d in his encounter many situations which is present. everyday conversations. He did challenge our religious observance. not feel constrained by being out .in the open, amongst strangers ְוָכל ְזַמן ֶׁשִּיָּכֵנס, There are, at times, two opposite The Rambam writes and each Yosef understood the message of“ – ִי ְפַּגע ְּבִי ּחוד שׁ ְ מוֹ ׁ ֶשל הקב"ה pressures to which a Jew might succumb. There are those who find time we enter, we are met with the the chanukiah. He practiced his it easier to be a Jew on the “inside.” name of G-d.” The mezuzah tells us Judaism in public. When they are at home, they are not to leave our Judaism out on the totally kosher. They daven, they street, not to live a Judaism based on Our job on Chanukah is to remember what the Hasmonean שׁ ִ ִּו ִיתי ה' ְלֶנְגִּד ָת ִמ ייד .make brachot, they are meticulous other’s judgments victory over the Greeks symbolizes. about each detail of halacha. Yet – G-d is always watching. when they go outside, they feel the Our inner and deep feelings for need to blend in. Off comes any Yet upon exiting our house, the our religion must motivate us to be ּת וֹ כ וֹ ְ ּכ ָב ר וֹ religious identification. The need chanukiah is on our right. The , to be Jews on the inside, to socialize and intermingle with Greek motto was the blending in of in private, as well as Jews on the professional acquaintances justifies the nations, the Hellenization of the outside, amongst other people. Let the falling away of any religious Jews. Be like us, why be different. us use this holiday as a springboard norms. They are a Jew at home but The chanukiah symbolizes our to strengthen our spiritual growth, not amongst the nations. victory over the Greeks and their both in our homes and in our public creed. We must and will be Jews lives. There are also those who find it in the workplace, amongst our easier to be a Jew on the “outside.” neighbors, just as we are in our own Peer pressure, being surrounded homes. 1 Sotah 36. by others who would not approve 2 Bereishit 39:3. of certain inappropriate behaviors, So as we leave our homes, and force them to behave religiously. we look to the right, we see our They would not dare eat in a chanukiah, to remind us not to leave certain public eatery, or take certain our Judaism inside. We overcame Rabbi Shalom Rosner is a Rebbe at liberties or shortcuts, related to the Greeks, and we must stay strong Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh and Rabbi of their public religious observance. in our public Jewish way of life. the Nofei HaShemesh community

12 | Rabbi Berel Wein The Battle Has Not Yet Ended

here is probably no other was fraught with financial and Israel and paganism and for Jewish holiday in the Jewish social pitfalls. Even observant Jews sovereign independence and Torah calendar that has had as did not wear distinctive garb or observance. And that battle has not Tmuch material written about it as head covering publicly and therefore yet ended. Chanukah. There are many causes displaying the lights of Chanukah and reasons for this seeming in our front windows was to convey The miracle of Chanukah is an anomaly of a relatively minor a universal idea and not merely a earned miracle, so to speak. There rabbinic holiday receiving so Jewish commemoration. is a rabbinic tradition that all of the much attention. The fact that by miracles that appear in the were built into nature – again so the nature of the calendar it falls Again, in my youth, no-one placed their Chanukiah outside, near the to speak – at the inception of the in the month of December – and door of their home. The of process of Creation. Not so the later especially this year when it actually Eastern Europe had warned that one miracles. coincides with the holiday of the should not antagonize the general majority culture in the Western population by a public display of Those miracles had to be earned world – is part of the reason it Jewish commemoration. This held by the sacrifice and actions of the has achieved such notoriety and true even in the land of the free and Jews themselves in opposing evil, attention. the home of the brave. wrongdoing and paganism. This is an important lesson for us in our Jews never want to be left out of The growing strength and intensity times. Though we do not yet have a celebration and thus we have of Orthodox Jewish life in the the ability to purify the Temple created our own – gifts and United States and the great amount or light its golden candelabra, the all – allowing us some latitude of acceptance and tolerance the kindling of our small Chanukah in participating in the general Jewish community has achieved lights symbolizes our determination atmosphere of the month. All of over the past half-century have and commitment to be a free, this is perhaps true only on the altered this behavior pattern. Most independent and holy people, subconscious level, as it is likely American Jews feel comfortable devoted to our tradition and our that none of Israel’s great scholars – except perhaps on the college Torah. would publicly countenance such an campuses of the country – in approach. Nevertheless, realistically asserting their Jewishness publicly By doing so publicly, even in a speaking, one cannot help but feel and unabashedly. society where the general culture the resonance of the general culture, stands against much of what we at least in the Jewish societies of the Here in Israel, Chanukah has largely represent, we renew our purpose Western world. returned to its original format and and mission in life. It is our actions meaning. It represents the struggle that will bring about the necessary As such, Chanukah has been against false gods, Hellenistic miracles that will be reflected in the portrayed in a more universal sense misinterpretations of Judaism and Jewish story throughout the ages. than its original commemoration a desire to purify the people and the We therefore thank G-d not only perhaps warranted. In my youth, Land through our actions and the for the past miracles that Chanukah the general Jewish representation of Divine miracles omnipresent in our represents and commemorates but the holiday was that it was a battle personal and national lives. also for the current miracles, seen and a triumph for religious freedom. and unseen, known and unknown, Mainstream Western Jewish Chanukah here does not stand that mark our present existence as society presented it as a victory for for pluralistic Judaism, concern well. democracy over totalitarian rule for the environment or any of and completely universal in its the other new false gods that so message and content. invest Western society today, and in parts of the Jewish world Rabbi Berel Wein is Senior Rabbi of This was at a time when being as well. The Hasmoneans fought Beit Knesset HaNassi in Jerusalem and Jewish, certainly publicly Jewish, against foreign oppression of Director of the Destiny Foundation

• | 13 Rabbanit Rachelle Fraenkel

A Glimpse of the Divine

often wonder what a rationalist We can manage on our own… instructions and the plot being like me can do when weaved over our heads. This fits in beautifully with the old encountering everyday miracles. description of Zionism: Similarly, couples undergoing IThe old joke tells of a man fertility treatments have a sharp The secular kibbutznik says, “You drowning in the sea, clinging to a say the State of Israel is from G-d? awareness of the fragility of the floating board and praying to G-d to No way! It’s from the Palmach!” webs that keeps the tiny embryo send him salvation. A fishing boat Then with a Yiddish accent, the attached. There is a feeling that the passes and offers help, but he says, chassid from Mea Shearim says, tissue is so delicate it is almost held “No thanks, I am confident in the “You say the State of Israel is from in place by prayer. That it might tear L-rd.” Next, a surfer reaches out to HaKadosh Baruch Hu? No way, it’s if we let go even for a minute. him and again he refuses, “Salvation from the Palmach.” We are all held in place by will come like the blink of an eye.” delicate silk strands. We are all A helicopter flies over and our hero There are two types of ingratitude vulnerable, fragile and exposed – waves it on. He drowns. He arrives (in Hebrew it’s the same word and miraculously supported every in Heaven and asks G-d why He as heresy). One could fail to second of our lives. didn’t save him. “I sent you a boat, understand that G-d is operating in a surfer and a chopper. What more the world because the means seem Not only are we more fragile and too ‘secular’ – the intermediaries did you want?” vulnerable than we care to admit. are not sufficiently refined. Or one We are also continually blessed A similar joke tells of a could put one’s trust in the ordinary and coddled with an abundance of hurrying to a critical meeting in Tel and say it’s nature, so why are you good in every second of our routine Aviv. She’s desperately searching for talking to me about G-d? existence, above all imagination a parking space. She prays to G-d to What is an everyday miracle? Let and beyond our ability to perceive. help her. The words have barely left us suggest that it’s an occurrence The everyday miracle is a kind of her lips when a truck moves out of a that does not involve changes in momentary unveiling, a statistical spot. The woman says “Never mind the order of nature, but is perhaps glitch attesting to our entire G-d, I managed.” statistically quite unlikely, happens existence. with perfect timing and even feels What the two jokes have in Just like G-d-forbid, tragedies shake like a miracle, if only for a second. common is that the person does not our world, a miracle also has the understand that G-d works through It seems like the purpose of power to make our world tremble. natural agents, that all natural everyday miracles – the exception, However, we have mere seconds incidents are G-d’s acts in the world. the unlikely, and sometimes even in which to acknowledge what has In the first joke, the man does not the unbelievably crazy – is to teach happened as literally awe-some or value the help offered because it us about the usual, the expected and to see it as something natural and was not Divine enough. He didn’t the standard. obvious. recognize the agents as Divine Once at a Brit, I heard people “Even the person for whom a because they weren’t decorated joking about the sleeping baby miracle is performed is unaware of with fairy dust or accompanied by blissfully unaware of what was the miracle.”1 thunder and lightning. As far as about to happen. Then one of them he was concerned, G-d had not yet commented, “And do we know what So the next time you experience intervened. awaits us?” an everyday miracle, be aware of it. Acknowledge it! In the second, the woman hurried to It felt like he had just exposed the use the opportunity that presented strings that are attached to all of itself, but because it was ‘natural’ us. Like puppets, we move around 1 Niddah 31a. she attributes no religious value to with an illusory sense of control Rabbanit Rachelle Fraenkel teaches it. Here, too, G-d did not interfere. and choice, unaware of the directing Torah at midrashot in Israel

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The Menorah used in the Beit In Jewish oral tradition, the The Temple Institute has created a HaMikdash was a seven-branched Temple Menorah stood 18 hand- life-sized Menorah, designed by gold- candelabra. Today we use a nine- breadths high, or approximately 1.62 smith Chaim Odem, intended for use branched Chanukiah during the meters (5.3 ft). in a future . The Meno- eight-day holiday of Chanukah, com- rah is made of one talent (interpreted as 45 kg) of 24-karat pure gold, ham- memorating the eight-day miracle of mered out of a single block of solid the jug of oil. gold, with decorations based on the depiction of the original on the Arch In 2009, the ruins of a of Titus and the Temple Institute's dating from before the destruction of interpretation of the relevant religious The Menorah, carved in deep the Second Temple were discovered texts. relief, is the main focus on the Arch of in Magdal, in the Galilee. Archeolo- Titus, an arch constructed in 81 CE by gists discovered a rectangular stone Emperor Domitian shortly after the displaying a depiction of a seven-lamp death of his older brother Titus. The Menorah markedly different from the The Menorah symbolized the carvings depict the spoils taken from depiction on the Arch of Titus. This ideal of universal enlightenment, as the . Menorah has branches that are polyg- noted in the Talmud: “Rabbi Yitzchak onal, not rounded, and the base is tri- said: He who desires to become wise angular, not graduated. However, this should incline to the south [when praying]. The symbol [by which to was found a significant distance from remember this] is that… the Meno- The Menorah has been a symbol Jerusalem. The depiction on the Arch rah was on the southern side [of the of Judaism since ancient times. Today, of Titus has often been interpreted as Temple].” The seven lamps allude to flanked by two olive branches, it is the a more reliable eyewitness reconstruc- the branches of human knowledge, national emblem of the modern State tion of the original Menorah from the represented by the six lamps inclined of Israel. Temple in Jerusalem. inwards towards – and symbolically

16 | 8 Illuminating Facts about the Menorah in the Beit Hamikdash

guided by – the light of G-d as rep- resented by the central lamp. The Menorah also symbolizes the Cre- ation in seven days, with the center light representing Shabbat.

According to one opinion in the Talmud, only the center lamp of the Menorah in the Beit HaMikdash – into which as much oil was put as into the others – was left burning all day. Although all the other lights were extinguished, that light continued burning, despite being lit first. This miracle was taken as a sign that the Shechina, the Divine Presence, rested over Israel. It was called the Ner HaMa’aravi (Western lamp) because of the direction of its wick. This lamp was also referred to as the Ner Elokim (lamp of G-d).

1 Baba Batra 12a. 2 Rashi, Shabbat 22b. 3 Menachot 86b. 4 I Samuel 3:3.

| 17 istory itself has a history. Our perspectives shift over time, and some moments Hmay only seem meaningful in retrospect. We don’t always Chanukah understand the real significance of an event until many decades later or sometimes even centuries. A classic example of this is the history of Chanukah. in At one level, the Chanukah story is very simple. From the days of Alex- ander the Great of Macedon, Israel was under the dominion of the Alex- Hindsight andrian Empire of the Greeks. This meant that in the third century BCE, it was under the control of the Ptole- mies based in Egypt and Alexandria. Then, during the second century BCE, Israel came under the domain of the Seleucids who were based in Syria.

The Seleucid leader, Antiochus IV, who modestly called himself Epiph- anes, meaning “G-d made mani- fest”, decided to force the pace of Hellenisation on the Jews of the . Among other things, he forbade the public practice of Judaism, erected a statue of Zeus in the Temple, and offered swine before it as a sacrifice, in a desecra- tion of Jewish values that Jews of the time called the Abomination of Desolation.

An elderly Priest called Mattityahu, and his sons and their supporters, known to history as the Maccabees, rose in revolt. Over the next three years, they scored a momentous victory over the Seleucids, re-con- quering Jerusalem and bringing it back under Jewish sovereignty. They cleansed the Temple and rededi- cated it, lighting the great Menorah, the candelabrum that stood in the Temple, for a celebration lasting eight days.

That is the story of Chanukah as captured in history in the first and

18 | Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks

second books of Maccabees. But that today, something special. Something to the current way is reflected in is not how the story was ultimately worth fighting for. Judaism, with its the name of the festival itself. Cha- told within the Jewish tradition, as it emphasis on the sanctification of nukah, from the word chanuch, was ruled that the two books of Mac- life, and the belief that every human means re-dedication. That is what cabees, and others under the same being was created in G-d’s image, the Maccabees did to the Temple. title, should be called Sefarim Chit- held eternal truths that we could not They rededicated it, as described in zoni’im, apocryphal works, and kept abandon. This was the unique dis- the books of Maccabees. Yet over out of the Bible. The Chanukah story tinction between the culture of the time, Chanukah became connected that is told instead is a very different Greeks and the world of the Torah to the word, a word meaning educa- one, with a powerful message. and Judaism. As a result, Jews have tion. What we re-dedicated was not always known that the real battle is a physical building – the Temple – The Talmud tells us that in the not necessarily fought on the physi- first century, in the last days of but living embodiments of Judaism, cal battlefield with physical weapons, the Second Temple, a Rabbi called namely our children, our students, but rather in the hearts and minds of Yehoshua Ben Gamla established the people to whom we teach and future generations. a network of schools throughout hand on our heritage and values. Israel. The result of this was that So Judaism and the Jewish people From being the festival of a military from the age of six, every child in the became a faith and a nation no victory, Chanukah became the fes- country received a publicly-funded longer focusing on its military tival of a spiritual and civilizational universal education. This was the heroes, but on its spiritual ones. It one. first education system of its kind became a civilization rooted in texts, anywhere in the world, and also a and in teachers, and in houses of I believe this history of our history clear indication of the now familiarly study. We became the people whose has a message for us all. It teaches Jewish commitment to education heroes were teachers, whose citadels us this fundamental truth, as rele- and to ensuring our children are were schools, and whose passion was vant to our lives today as ever before: literate in their heritage. According learning and the life of the mind. to defend a country physically you to the Talmud, Rabbi Yehoshua ben The end result was that Judaism did need an army, but to defend a civili- Gamla’s memory is blessed, because survive and thrive throughout the zation you need education, you need without his intervention the Torah centuries, whereas Ancient Greece, educators, and you need schools. would have been forgotten in Israel. the Greece of Athens, the Greece of Those are the things that kept the Without him, there would have been Alexander the Great, declined. In Jewish spirit alive and the Menorah no survival of Judaism and ultimately fact, it was only a short time after the of Jewish values burning through- no Jews. events of the Chanukah story that out the centuries with an everlasting What Rabbi Yehoshua Ben Gamla Greece began its decline, and Rome light. Often what seems at the time and the other Sages understood, rose to take its place. to be the headline news, the military victory, is, in the hindsight of history, and what was not understood at the That is the message of Chanukah, secondary to the cultural victory of time of Chanukah itself, was that and to articulate our story, we focus handing your values on to the next the real battle against the Greeks in a rather beautiful and symbolic generation. was not a military one, but a cul- way on just one tiny detail of the tural one. At the time, the Greeks original chain of events: that one If we do that, we will ensure that our were the world’s greatest in many cruse of pure, undefiled oil was children and theirs will light up the fields. They were unparalleled in found by the Maccabees among world. Chanukah Sameach! their advances in art, in architecture, the wreckage and defilements of in literature, in drama, in philoso- the Temple, just enough to light the phy. Even today, their achievements Menorah until more oil could be have never been surpassed. But Jews sourced. nonetheless believed, and surely his- Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks is Emeritus tory has borne this out, that there One of the most interesting aspects of the United Hebrew is within Judaism, within ancient of this shifting perspective from Congregations of the Commonwealth Israel and still within its heritage to the original way of telling the story @RabbiSacks · www.RabbiSacks.org

| 19 Rabbi Benji Levy

the of jewish Miracle continuity

ear in and year out, I am Chanukah, on the other hand, was A Jewish wedding is becoming more asked a time sensitive ques- very different in this sense. Jews rare, not because of hatred, but tion – should a couple getting were not hated for who they were because of love – universalism is Ymarried on Chanukah light a cha- but for what they did. It was not more embracing than particularity nukiah at their wedding? their existence but their practice and assimilation is more accommo- dating than distinction. The most recent time I was asked that threatened Greek culture. this question, rather than answer- Jews that acted as Jews were differ- It is for this reason that one may ing, I took advantage of the educa- ent from those that were prepared married on Chanukah, accord- tional opportunity and asked if one to assimilate. Indeed they were ing to all opinions, as essentially can even get married on Chanukah. loved as people and only hated as the smachot are two expressions of the same source – choosing to love The answer is yes, but why? Jews – if only they could express their humanity through Greek soci- rather than falling in or out of love, The Talmud famously states “ein ety and abandon their particular- celebrating the perpetuation of our me’arvin simcha b’simcha” – we ity, they would be welcome to not destiny and Jewish continuity. do not mix two different smachot simply survive but thrive. Therefore, while there are questions or joyous occasions as they can around the blessings, one can light detract from or be confused with When read this way, the miracle of Chanukah candles at a wedding for one another, preventing adequate is a celebration of the most the purpose of publicizing the mira- attention to each.1 For this reason, basic human need – the ability to live and breathe. cle, because indeed, the miracle of a the Beer Hetev and others hold that Jewish wedding is the perpetuation the custom is not to get married on The miracle of Chanukah, however, 2 of the miracle of Chanukah – “the Purim. is a celebration of the most basic strong were delivered into the hands With so many similarities between Jewish need – to live freely and of the weak, the many into the 3 these two festivals, why can one get actively as a Jew. hands of the few.” married on Chanukah but not on The enemy of Purim hated us so Chanukah is a time learn from our Purim? much that they would kill us regard- past as we spark, ignite and shine Purim represents the ultimate mir- less of what we did – the enemy of through the next generation, illumi- acle of physical survival against a Chanukah loved us so much that nating the path ahead for a brighter physical threat. they wanted us to subscribe to their future! Hellenistic way of life. Haman hated the Jewish people and therefore wanted to extermi- Returning to our question, cele- 1 Moed Katan 8b. nate every last Jew. The gallows brating the miracle of Purim rep- 2 See the Be’er Heitev on Shulchan Aruch, that were set did not discriminate resents a different type of simcha Orach Chayim, Hilchot Megillah Purim 696:8. See also the Levush, Magen against female or male, young or to getting married – the former Avraham and Pri Chadash. old, believer or non-believer – the represents being alive, the second 3 Al HaNissim prayer. very existence of Jews necessitated how we choose to live. Celebrating their eradication. Jews were never Chanukah represents the same type welcome into society regardless of of simcha as getting married – we what they could potentially add or actively choose who we love in order remove. to continue our people. Rabbi Benji Levy is CEO of Mosaic United

20 | Rabbi Benji Levy

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Eight Thoughts for Eight Days of Chanukah

Rabbi Avigdor Nebenzahl “what was I looking for?” So sit and what he was talking about. Then asks a fascinating question: watch during this half-hour — for he shouted again, “What candle is who actually remembers yourself, for those around you. it today?” Only after the third time Antiochus? Does anyone See the ‘there is’ and not the ‘there did she realize and shouted back, continue in his path and isn’t.’ Just stop running around and “Tonight we will light the second legacy? This can also worrying about the light that is candle!” Yes, it was the first morning be asked about Ya’akov and Esav. elsewhere. The light is here, with of Chanukah. Ya’akov represents eternity, values you. Look at the flames. That’s all and effort, while Esav represents there is to do. Don’t miss out.” Edelstein did not have a calendar in the here and now, violence and evil. the dungeon, but he heard the date in Rabbi Nebenzahl writes: “Does In a small classroom at court and calculated that it should be anyone remember Ya’akov sitting in the Tzion BeRina school Chanukah. the tents? Of course. Every day we in Beitar Illit, Knesset are reminded of the ‘G-d of Ya’akov’ Speaker Yuli Edelstein That evening, Edelstein somehow three times in our prayers. We live told one of the most found two matches. He stood in the life and legacy of our father fantastic stories we have front of the window and lit them. Ya’akov. But does anyone remember ever heard about Chanukah. “And so,” he told the young students in Beitar Illit, “I stood there in front Esav, the hunter? For sure — one On December 19, 1984, the day of the window for a few seconds until who studies the Torah of Ya’akov. he was sentenced to three years in the matches scorched my fingers. Outside the Torah, there is no trace prison in a forced labor camp in It was perhaps the shortest candle of Esav, as well as otherworldly southern Siberia, Edelstein spoke wicked men formerly renowned. If it to the court. The official charge lit in history, I don’t even know if I wasn’t for Ya’akov who exists forever, was “drug possession,” but the real fulfilled the mitzvah, but that night, there would be no trace of them.” reason was his Zionist and Jewish a little bit of light pushed away a lot activity. of darkness.” Evil and injustice have no foothold in the end. Seemingly strong and “After three months of being in A new poll reveals that intimidating regimes eventually a dungeon,” Edelstein told the 74% of Israelis light become a footnote in history. students. “I came to the court for candles every night sentencing. The hall was full of of Chanukah. This is the hardest What’s police and security personnel. an amazing statistic. thing for us to do? Normally, relatives were allowed to Political and media discourse may Nothing. On Chanukah, come to hear the trial, but they filled confuse us. We talk all the time women tend to refrain all the seats with security personnel about secular coercion and religious from doing work for so my family had nowhere to sit. coercion, and especially over the last the first half-hour after Only my wife and mother managed year’s election campaigns, hurtful lighting the candles. According to get in.” to Rabbanit Yemima Mizrachi: “It things were said about the religious used to be easier to sit next to the After the verdict, Edelstein was and ultra-Orthodox. Yet it turns chanukiah. Just sit, look at the flames surrounded by police officers. On the out that thousands of years after the and relax. Today, it’s a task. No frying way out, he somehow managed to Chanukah miracle — deep in our sufganiyot, no changing diapers, no push his head through the security hearts we are all connected. We all serving anything. What is missing ring. He had one thing to say to his want to continue the story together. most in the world? Serenity. What’s wife, whom he had not seen for three We’re all a little zealous, dedicated the hardest thing to do? Not to do. months, knowing it could be a few and eager to illuminate the world. You want to message someone and years before he would see her again. The next time you listen to the forget who you wanted to text and What was so important for him to news and are confident that Israel is what you wanted to write. You rush shout to her? “Tanya, what candle completely confused, remember the to the kitchen and then ask yourself is it today?” She didn’t understand number 74.

22 | Sivan Rahav Meir and Yedidya Meir Eight Thoughts for Eight Days of Chanukah

“We need to listen to 6. Self Light. The candles stay lit begin in the square and the street but what the candles tell us,” on their own after we light them. also at our doors and windows. is a famous Chassidic When educating and influencing saying. Here are six others, make sure your impact is This is the first time we lessons the Lubavitcher so empowering that others will are celebrating Chanukah Rebbe learned from the continue to shine brightly long after in a country where it is candles and Chanukah which are you touched them. not mainstream culture. applicable the entire year: In Israel, the Jewish When we hear the pulse is the pulse of the 1. The importance of tradition. word gibor — hero, we State. In North America, Unlike many other holidays, imagine some powerful Chanukah is a minor holiday. Rav Chanukah is not in the Torah at Superman. Chanukah Soloveitchik wrote that there is a all. It occurred later, so there are is a great opportunity reason we read about Yosef during no explicit verses referring to it. to talk about the heroic Chanukah. The Hasmoneans spirit. Neither Greek culture nor Our Sages have determined how to struggled in the Hellenistic world, machoism won out on Chanukah, celebrate it. In essence, this teaches Yosef struggled in the Egyptian nor should we focus only on military us about the importance of tradition, world, both were fighting a cultural or physical heroism. After all, the of Sages, of Oral Torah. struggle for spiritual independence. word gibor comes from the same 2. Prepare for the dark. We light root as the word lehitgaber — to Rav Soloveitchik repeatedly uses candles precisely when the darkness overcome. The Sages said: “Who is the word ‘heroic.’ In both cases no descends. We are not scared by the a hero? The one who conquers his one wanted to physically kill us — darkness. On the contrary, we know inclination.” The constant battle for the Hasmoneans were only asked there are dark periods, and it is virtue, for gentleness, for language, to assimilate into Greek culture, precisely then that we make an extra holiness, in our relationships — this to give up their identity. Yosef, effort and light up the darkness. is the heroism that Chanukah must without losing his own identity, illuminate. was a senior official in the Egyptian 3. Light up the street. The original regime. That is why he has become halacha is not to light inside the We do not fully a model for us to live in a foreign house but rather outside. That is, understand the mystical, land. The challenge of wealth and man should not only create light Kabbalistic, spiritual abundance will accompany us from inside but should invest in trying to meaning of Chanukah. But Egypt to Spain and Germany, and illuminate the outside, the street. let’s try to understand a bit here in America today. When life is more. Rabbi Yerachmiel comfortable and free and everything 4. Add light. The method of lighting Yisrael Yitzchak Danziger wrote is allowed, the Hasmoneans and on Chanukah is called “add and a text to read before lighting the Yosef force us to ask ourselves, how continue” — every day another Chanukah candles: “Every simple do our heroism, commitment and candle is added. No matter how man, when he lights a Chanukah dedication manifest themselves in much you did yesterday, move candle, he himself becomes the High our lives today? forward and do a little more today. Priest, and his house becomes the Temple. He is not just lighting the oil 5. Permanence in life. The candles or wax candles, he elevates the light are placed in one place and must of the six days of Creation and lights not be moved. A Jew who enlightens in trepidation and awe at the joy of their environment must understand the mitzvah, at the fact that a simple that this task is constant and steady man like himself has the opportunity Sivan Rahav Meir and Yedidya Meir in his soul. It is part of his perpetual to ignite great ‘revolutions’ in the are popular Israeli media personalities order of life, and he must make sure Heavenly world.” Note the word and World Mizrachi's shlichim to North it stays that way. ‘revolutions.’ Revolutions not only America

| 23 RAV KOOK’S TEACHINGS

Rabbi Dr. Yosef Bronstein THE TORAH VS. THE JEWISH PEOPLE?

hanukah is often portrayed Within this second perspective, Of course, this does not mean as the story of an oppressed Rav Kook raises the question of that every action of every Jew is Jewish minority rising in hierarchy. We know that both the automatically sanctioned by G-d Crevolt against an oppressive foreign Torah and the Jewish people are in and takes precedence over the force. However, in addition to this some ways expressions of G-d and mitzvot of the Torah. Just the inspirational narrative, Chanukah both were created prior to the world. opposite – in order for the Jewish is also the unfortunate story of However, is it possible to identify people’s essence to be actualized a Jewish civil war. The tensions one of these entities as being ‘closer’ and revealed we need to follow the between Hellenized and traditional to G-d and as ‘preceding’ the other? Torah’s dictates. This is particularly Jews had been simmering for After analyzing this question true in our current exilic existence decades when Matityahu initiated from different angles, Rav Kook when there is no Menorah in the the rebellion by publicly killing a ultimately concludes that the Jewish Beit HaMikdash and the light of Hellenized Jew who was offering a people precede the Torah: the Jewish people does not shine sacrifice to the Greek gods. In the brightly in a revealed manner. ensuing war, the Chashmonaim From an inner perspective, the soul of the Jewish people is the root of But even as we closely adhere fought not only the Greeks but also to the fixed letters of Moshe’s their Hellenized brethren. the Torah… the Torah was created for the Jewish people. Torah, this teaching of Rav Kook While we understand that the should significantly impact our Chashmonaim were certainly The soul of the Jewish people attitude towards other Jews during existed prior to the Torah. Though justified in their fight for the moments of incommensurate the potency of the collective Jewish honor of G-d and His Torah, our debate. Yes, the Chashmonaim soul is at times concealed, it is commemoration of Chanukah were certainly justified and even the closest created entity to G-d, raises a broader question. Are we obligated to launch a civil war on figuratively situated at an even celebrating the civil war? Should behalf of the Torah. Yes, we too at higher point than the Torah itself.2 we be joyfully recounting the defeat times must take principled stands of the Hellenistic Jews at the hands Rav Kook locates this idea in a on behalf of the Torah which of the holy Chashmonaim? What Midrashic teaching regarding might unfortunately pit us against should our attitude be towards this the construction of the Mishkan. other Jews. But we should always sort of infighting? According to the Midrash, even as remember that deeply embedded Moshe grasped the construction in our fellow Jew is a spark of the ••• intricacies of every other element Menorah – a flame that binds us all In a wide-ranging piece, Rav of the Mishkan, he was unable together and rises higher than even Kook reflects on the relationship to comprehend how to forge the the Torah itself. between Torah and the Jewish Menorah. Ultimately, G-d himself 1 needed to miraculously create the people. On the one hand, the 1 Shemona Kevatzim 8:157. teaches of the unity of the Jewish Menorah. 2 Rav Tzvi Yehuda Kook (Sichot HaRav Tzvi people and the Torah, or as Rav Moshe represents the Torah. The Yehuda: Am Yisrael, p. 40-41) sources this Kook paraphrases it, “[they] truly Menorah and its light represent the idea in a Midrash (Tanna Dvei Eliyahu have the same soul.” However, a chapter 15). He adds that the primacy of collective soul of the Jewish people. the Jewish people is also implied by the hallmark of Rav Kook’s philosophy Moshe’s inability to understand the formulation of Birchat HaTorah: “Blessed is the embrace of paradoxes. workings of the Menorah indicates are you G-d… Who chose us from all of the Characteristically, despite the that the root of the Jewish people nations and gave us His Torah,” in which the selection of the Jewish people precedes the supernal unity of the Torah and the is even higher than the Torah itself. Giving of the Torah. Jewish people, Rav Kook develops The light of the Jewish people – another perspective which sees the light of the Menorah that we them as interrelated but distinct kindle anew every year – is beyond entities. The Torah is a body of ideas the comprehension of even Moshe Rabbi Dr. Yosef Bronstein is a faculty and texts and the Jewish people are Rabbeinu, the archetypal teacher of member of Michlelet Mevaseret a group of human beings. Torah. Yerushalayim and Yeshiva University

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Rabbi Moshe Berliner Chanukah and Marriage: Routine and Renewal

hy do we light Chanukah Think of the energy it takes for a Understanding Chanukah can candles? Pirsumei Nisa – child to learn to tie his shoes. It deepen our awareness of what is to proclaim the miracle soon turns into a habit and the needed. Why might the Sfat Emet Wof finding the jar of pure oil with child’s energy is free to conquer tie the lighting of the Chanukah the High Priest’s seal. We place new frontiers. Things that have candles to the idea of the dangers of the candles where others see them. no special meaning should be routine? Until what hour may we light the turned into habits. The danger, candles? For as long as they fulfill of course, is that things that need Because light symbolizes wisdom. their purpose – “od shetichaleh regel thought, intention, dedication and “Who is the wise man? He who min hashuk” – until there are no care may also become routine and understands the consequences of longer people in the market place to thereby lose their essential quality his actions.” A husband or wife be inspired by viewing the candles of consciousness and intention. realizes that the deepest meaning marking the Chanukah miracle. These things must remain special, of their actions and words are remembered and cherished. The Sfat Emet adds a remarkable their consequences to their spouse. dimension to the Chanukah story. A central challenge to our spiritual They are wise because they treat He interprets the halachic phrase life is to develop the artistry of their marriage as a work of art that “od shetichaleh regel min hashuk” finding the balance between the they create and recreate every day through their actions. They are fully metaphorically. He points out routine and the new, the standard committed to the agreements and that the word regel, foot, if read as and the unique. When done understandings that serve as the hergal,” means routine, habit. In his well, routine gives stability and bedrock of their marriage “routine.” unique reading, we learn that one security. Too much routine leads to They are also deeply concerned also lights the Chanukah candles boredom and stagnation. Newness that their marriage is filled with to ensure that the central theme and change add vitality and vitality and renewal. With this of Chanukah, the great miracle renewal. Too much change leads to balance, they build their Shalom which was done for the Jewish instability. Bayit (marital harmony). They bring nation, does not become routine. It This issue is central to marriage. the Divine Presence to their unique is vital that the remarkable miracle Marriage needs stability – marriage. of Chanukah not lose its powerful living together with the joint message of G-d’s miraculous understandings which we’ve come We light Chanukah candles to intervention in our lives. to agree on. Two individuals, often proclaim G-d’s miraculous presence in our world. We build fulfilling This idea is a central theme in so different from each other, build marriages to bring the Divine our spiritual life. We believe that their lives together. The early Presence into our personal lives. everything is from G-d. However, stage of marriage is focused on we are created such that things that the work of building their unique repeat themselves become devalued. marriage. This is not always easy We soon experience them as “just but is nonetheless needed to create the way things are.” We lose our the rules and assumptions of their sense of deep appreciation for the marriage. However, it is important Rabbi Moshe Berliner is an author, everyday miracles, because, well, to remember that marriage also M.S.W. and therapist specializing in they happen every day. We take needs newness and renewal in order to maintain its vitality. That vitality family and marriage. His book “To Build them for granted. and to Bond: Living Well in a Jewish doesn’t always come automatically. Marriage,” from Mizrachi Press, is now This issue is complex. On the one It demands thought, investment, available for purchase from Machon hand, the fact that things that knowing each other and the needs Netivot: repeat themselves turn into habits of the marriage, balancing one’s [email protected] is important and often very helpful. own life with that of their spouse. +972-2-625-8325

26 | PARENTING

Rabbi Moshe Berliner Dr. David Pelcovitz The Power of Time and Connection in Moral Education

core predictor of which dinner together every night. The are the children of youth” (Tehillim families produce children importance of “eating dinner” 127:4). The obvious question is what who grow up to be together is not the eating or the is the connection between a warrior Adescribed as a mensch is the dinner; it’s the uninterrupted, holding his bow and arrow and amount and quality of time spent focused interaction that seems to childhood? The Kotzker answers by parents with their children. In bear such valuable fruit. Children that just like with an archer, the a carefully researched national have sensitive radar and can tell closer he pulls the bow, the further survey of working parents in the whether their parents are really and straighter the arrow will go, United States, the Pew Research there and paying attention to them, so too, with children: the closer Center documented the reality or if their minds are preoccupied we hold them, the further and that most children grow up in a with concerns about work or other straighter they go. household in which both of their problems. Making time for your In a classic longitudinal study, parents work. Many parents find it child entails truly being present USC Sociology professor, Vernon difficult to balance the demands of both in mind and body, and Bengston, asked a basic question work and family. Most parents (86% providing the undivided attention about the internalization of of mothers and 81% of fathers), say that children need to develop and religious values. Looking over the they feel rushed at least sometimes, internalize proper values. while 40% of full-time working span of four generations, what moms say they always feel rushed. In addition to eating meals kind of parenting practice best together, routine family rituals predicts which great-grandchildren The amount of time parents spend such as regularly scheduled family would continue to share the basic with children is not necessarily vacations, bedtime rituals, and religious values and practices correlated with positive child holiday and birthday celebrations of their great-grandparents? outcomes. Rather, it is the quality are more important to a child’s Bengston’s findings were what of the time. For example, there healthy development than has common-sense would dictate: a is evidence that when parents been previously appreciated. consistent religious message, a are stressed, irritable, and sleep- Research has documented that lack of hypocrisy demonstrated deprived, the time they spend children appear to benefit in a very by practicing what was preached, with their children can actually be powerful manner from partaking in and marriage to a partner who harmful. In contrast, quality time was committed to carrying on spent reading to a child, enjoying a regularly scheduled, structured and in the family religious traditions. family dinner together, or engaging predictable activities. For example, Most importantly, however, the in calm one-on-one discussion is studies indicate that families who most powerful predictor of what clearly associated with positive value these activities and invest determined whether a child who outcomes in children. time and energy in ensuring that children experience these rituals left religious practice returned was In a fascinating series of studies, in a meaningful and predictable the level of warmth and closeness researchers have found a direct manner, raise children who are less between parent and child. As long correlation between the number anxious, feel more “lovable,” and as at least one parent continued to of times a week parents eat dinner have more positive self-concepts. metaphorically hold their child’s with their children and their Conversely, when these activities hand, even after they left religious children’s risk for drug abuse. are disrupted because of traumatic practice, the continued warmth, Families that eat dinner together family events such as divorce or connection, and love made it once a week have children with a chronic illness, children are at more likely that the child would lower risk for drug abuse than those increased risk for a wide range of ultimately return to the religious that never do. With each increasing behavioral, academic and emotional tradition in which they were raised. night that parents and children eat difficulties. Dr. David Pelcovitz holds the Gwendolyn together, drug abuse risk decreases and Joseph Straus Chair in Psychology to the point where there is virtually The Kotzker Rebbe has a beautiful and Jewish Education at the Azrieli no risk for drug abuse in families interpretation of the verse, “Like Graduate School of Jewish Education and in which parents and children eat arrows in the hand of a warrior, so Administration at Yeshiva University

| 27 Rabbi Zev Leff

Thanking G-d for Misfortune and Deliverance

abbeinu Yona writes in for His miracles, deliverance, and but My face you cannot see.”4 The Sha’arei Teshuva: When one mighty acts, but also for the battles. Ktav Sofer explains: “My back – receives G-d’s chastisement when the world reaches its comple- The Talmud 2 says that those who Rand as a consequence improves his tion, then you will understand in composed Megillat Ta’anit (the ways, it is proper for him to rejoice hindsight, but My face – with fore- list of all the days commemorat- in his sufferings, for they brought sight, as the events are unfolding, ing miraculous deliverances for the him great benefit, and he should you will not comprehend.” thank G-d for them as he would Jewish people during the period for other successes... and one who of the Second Temple) cherished Why does Parashat Mikeitz end in calamities. In other words, only truly trusts in G-d should hope in the middle of the story, with Bin- those who could appreciate the the midst of his distress that the yamin’s fate hanging in the balance, Divine involvement in misfortune darkness will be the cause of his rather than with Yosef revealing could truly place the deliverances in light... As our Sages, of blessed himself? their proper perspective. memory, said, “If I did not fall, I The story of Yosef and his brothers, could not have arisen; if I had not Our inability to perceive the Divine says the Chafetz Chaim, contains been in darkness, it would not have in our suffering is a result of our a good lesson for the future. We been light for me.”1 limited perspective. often imagine that when Mashi- We do not celebrate our salvation Rabbi Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz ach comes, days if not weeks will alone, but also the misfortune and used to give the following allegory. be needed to explain the many suffering that necessitated that When a small child draws a person, tragedies of our history. But it is salvation. it is obvious from the start that the not so. With only two words – Ani circle on top is the face, the line Yosef, “I am Yosef” – Yosef cleared The suffering and the deliverance going down is the body, and the up all his brothers’ questions. So are to be seen as one indivisible lines projecting out are the arms too, when G-d reveals Himself and unit. If someone dug a hole in a and legs. But when a master artist the complete picture of the world public thoroughfare into which paints a person, he may start with becomes known, only two words – someone else fell and broke his a stroke of bright red, which to the Ani Hashem, “I am G-d” – will be legs, he would deserve little thanks uninitiated viewer appears to ruin necessary. for offering to pay the medical the canvas. Only when the painting expenses. But if a doctor has to is completed will it be obvious why The Sages, who divided the weekly break an arm in order to reset it the stroke of red was needed for Torah readings, intentionally ended properly, he deserves thanks for contrast. So, too, G-d is painting Mikeitz with a cliffhanger – to both the breaking and the resetting. a masterful panorama of history. teach us that although all is ulti- So too, must we recognize G-d’s As the painting develops, there are mately for the good, sometimes providential hand in our suffering strokes that we see as unnecessary one must wait until “next week” to as well as our deliverance. or detrimental. But when the paint- understand how this is so. ing is finished, it will be obvious The Sfat Emet explains that the days that every stroke was necessary for 1 Midrash Tehillim 22. of Chanukah were designated as the perfection of the picture. That 2 Shabbat 13b. days of Hallel veHoda’a (praise and is what the Talmud means when it 3 Berachot 10a. thanksgiving): Hallel for the mirac- 3 says there is no artist like G-d. ulous salvation, and Hoda’a for the 4 Shemot 33:23. suffering and misfortune that pre- When Moshe asked G-d to explain ceded it. Thus in the Al Hanissim the suffering of the righteous and prayer added to during the prosperity of the wicked, G-d Rabbi Zev Leff serves as the Rav of Chanukah, we not only thank G-d responded, “You will see My back, Moshav Matityahu

28 | Rabbi Zev Leff Rabbi Azarya Berzon

Thanking G-d for Misfortune What is a Miracle? and Deliverance

he idea of a miracle is prob- the power to change Nature and pit, to the point of destruction, not lematic. From a philosoph- bring about miracles. only of ourselves but of the world ical point of view, the foun- around us too. Tdation of all science is the Law of Nevertheless, the real problem Causality. This law states that what- is not the possibility of miracles, G-d is very tolerant with us. He ever happens in the world of Nature but rather, the necessity of mira- waits patiently, as we say on the ִּיכ ֹלא ַי ְחּפֹץ ְּבמוֹת ַה ֵּמ ת is a result of a cause which both pre- cles. Doesn’t the concept of mira- Yamim Noraim, ֶ א ָ ּ ל א ְ ּב שׁ ּ ו ב ֹו ceded it, and which brought about cle imply that G-d’s intervention – G-d does not desire the the effect in a necessary way. in a miraculous manner is a result demise of the wicked, but rather of some mistake or failure in the his repentance. Sometimes though, The laws of Nature have a power mechanics of Nature, i.e. in the human beings go too far, and G-d unto themselves. Whatever is, is original plan of Creation? will not stand by and allow history a result of a previous cause. And to take its course. If He were to do Our belief in miracles is based that cause, in turn, is the result of so, His purpose in Creation would on another belief – freedom of a cause that preceded it. And so be undermined. The underlying choice. It is this principle which on. This chain of cause and effect purpose of nes – miracle – is to underlies the tenet of schar veO- doesn’t lend itself to change; it is not uphold the possibility of the ful- nesh (reward and punishment). subject to alteration. All of science What sense would punishment and fillment of the teleological goal of is based on this principle. reward make if man’s actions are Creation. We can never know when determined, if everything we do is a situation will arise to precipitate It is worth noting that the British a miracle. But we do know that the philosopher, David Hume, ques- a result of a previous cause which makes our actions necessary? purpose of the miracle is to stop tioned the principle of causality. He Man before he goes too far. demonstrated that the principle of The belief in Free Will is based not Cause and Effect cannot claim for only on our Torah, but on our intu- Chazal constantly emphasize that itself any scientific, empirical proof. ition as well. We experience free- the ultimate purpose of G-d’s Cre- 1 Empirical evidence can merely dom of choice on a daily basis, con- ation was and is Klal Yisrael. The demonstrate that Event A took place stantly. For there to be Free Choice, Divine purpose is achieved through before Event B, but cannot establish we must be imperfect. If we were the one people who proclaim the that Event A caused Event B. perfect, there could be no Good and existence of the One G-d. Without Evil. It is only because of our imper- this people, there could be no uni- Were we to accept the empirical fection that responsibilities and verse. Hence, in the case of Chanu- argument and reject the principle challenges are imposed upon us to kah – and other instances through- of Cause and Effect, we could sug- achieve higher levels of existence. out history – the miracle of the gest a simple understanding of mir- victory was necessary to save Klal acles. There are no definite laws of If we are to be challenged, we must Yisrael and facilitate the fulfillment Nature. A miracle is any event that exist in an imperfect universe. of the Divine plan. is a result of G-d’s intervention in Because the universe is imperfect, the course of events. our role in it is to metaken (correct or perfect) ourselves and it. 1 See Brachot 6a. G-d’s Tefillin contain the However, even if we accept the verse “Who is like you Israel? One nation classical approach to Causality and Now we can understand the neces- in the Land.” Also see Rashi’s commentary the Laws of Nature, we can still sity for miracles. Since G-d created at the beginning of Bereishit. maintain that the philosophical us as imperfect beings, there is a problem is really not severe. To one need, on occasion, for Him to inter- Rabbi Azarya Berzon has over 4,800 who believes in G-d as Creator, it is vene through the medium of a mira- shiurim online and has served as simple enough to say that He, the cle. Human freedom can sometimes a Scholar-in-Residence in many Author of Nature and its Laws, has lead us to the abyss of a bottomless communities worldwide

| 29 Lt. Colonel (Res.) Rabbi Yedidya Atlas

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE MACCABEES

hose of us fortunate to live in Ben-Gurion Airport without link between the past and the in Israel sometimes accept risking being shot down by even future. things as a matter of course, a lone terrorist on a nearby hill- In 1947, Yitzchak Tabenkin of Kib- Teven taking them for granted. top wielding an over-the-shoulder butz Ein Harod was asked for his One of these is perhaps the daily rocket. But should a situation occur position on the proposed UN Par- awareness that the State of Israel is – however unforeseen at this time – tition Plan. His response: “I must a constant and growing miracle – a whereby other equally or even more consult with two people before gift from the Almighty, a serious effective defense mechanisms could giving you my answer: My grandfa- responsibility He has bestowed be applied, would Israel’s heart- ther, who is no longer living, and my upon His Chosen Nation. land then be simply negotiable real grandson, who has yet to be born.” estate? The State of Israel is currently sit- Tabenkin, who opposed the territo- uated on only part of the Divine- Yes, without the mountain aquifers rial concessions involved in the Par- ly-given historical Land of Israel. in Judea and Samaria, Israel would tition Plan, did not take the here- We, who still believe in traditional lose more than 40% of its water and-now approach. His national national Jewish-Zionist aspirations, sources, incapacitating even a mod- responsibility was a given. oppose the dismemberment of our icum of normal life in the country. We too cannot be so capricious of Homeland in exchange for ephem- Industry would limp at best, agri- nature, so weary of our national eral promises of tranquility, if not culture would be crippled. Gar- responsibility, as to give away actual peace. We reject the very dens would go unwatered, bathing what is not ours alone to barter. concept that it is necessary and and drinking water rationed. But The Land of Israel is not only our legitimate to willingly give up one's for example, if and when seawater sacred inheritance, but also that of territorial birthright for any reason. desalination plants become both previous generations that yearned economical and functional on a It is not just that no nation in to return and those who finally mass scale, would this mean Israel history ever voluntarily gave up founded the State. It also belongs no longer needs the geographic national territory to an enemy pub- to future generations, our children center of its Homeland? licly committed to their destruction. and our children’s children, and Let us be frank. We are here in the theirs after them. We cannot be so Unfortunately, even we, who sanely Land of Israel – and in Judea and selfish as to sacrifice a holy heritage oppose such concessions, all too fre- Samaria in particular – because of for what is transitory expediency at quently wrap our opposition with one primary and permanently valid best. rational explanations of strategically reason: this is the Land G-d prom- necessary territory, water sources, As we celebrate Chanukah and ised to our forefathers Avraham, and other equally justifiable rea- the Maccabee’s strength of com- Yitzchak and Ya’akov. sons. But we must be clear that all mitment, let us all reaffirm our commitment to the Jewish people, those reasons – however reason- As the Children of Israel of today, the Land of Israel and to our holy able and true – are only secondary we have a heavy responsibility, per- Torah, which kept us as a nation reasons. haps more than any previous gen- throughout the long and difficult eration. We did not merit to be the Yes, without the mountain ranges centuries of Exile, and pray for the founding generation of the modern of Judea and Samaria with their coming Redemption speedily in our State of Israel, the rebirth of the high grounds and bottleneck passes, days. Jewish Commonwealth in its Holy Israel cannot withstand a ground Land after nearly two millennia of invasion from the east. Without the wandering in the Diaspora. strategic depth afforded by these Lt. Colonel (Res.) Rabbi Yedidya Atlas is mountains, Israel would be a vul- But we are enjoined to continue a veteran journalist who has specialized nerable country with a mere nine- to build and defend our Land and in geo-political and geo-strategic affairs mile waist, and no plane could land Nation; to be that living, flourishing in the Middle East 30 | Lt. Colonel (Res.) Rabbi Yedidya Atlas Rabbi Hanoch Teller Light IN THE DARKNESS osef was a prisoner of Zion. experienced, a KGB representative Every day he saved a little bit from He fervently wished to leave will invite the inmate for a talk. his meager rations, even though this the Soviet Union and come to The prisoner will be offered coffee, meant subsisting on next to nothing. Ythe Land of Israel, a wish which for tea, meat or a visit to a restaurant When no one was watching, he many others resulted in punishment in civilian clothing. An officer secretly slipped a part of a slice of and a prison term from the Soviet from the secret police might tempt bread or a small piece of potato into authorities. the prisoner with a letter from his his pocket. Later on, he carefully family, or by permitting a visit from placed these scraps on a small ledge There were hundreds of Prisoners a friend. in his cell and prayed that a guard of Zion; brave men and women would not notice his collection. courageous enough to stand up to a To earn these privileges a prisoner ruthless regime. Yosef was unusual merely has to be willing to inform The day before Chanukah, Yosef in that he not only wished to live on a cellmate or confess to a crime could barely contain his excitement. in the Land of Israel; he tried in the he never committed. So far his little gathering most dramatic way to carry out that Yosef would never inform on a desire. had gone unnoticed and there was cellmate or confess to a crime he only one final, critical detail to be The day that he attempted to escape hadn’t committed, so he never got arranged. to Israel he was arrested by the any special privileges. Needless infamous KGB — the Soviet secret to say, he was denied all religious Trying to attract as little attention as possible, Yosef purchased a pack police — and sentenced to death. articles, as well as permission to of cigarettes in the prison store, Due to pressure applied by free perform mitzvot. although he didn’t smoke. He knew countries all over the world, his But the KGB, for all their terror, that packets of cigarettes were sentence was eventually commuted intimidation, and frequent accompanied by matches, and they to a long and harsh prison term punishments, couldn’t break were the crucial missing ingredient in the horrible Vladimir Prison in Yosef’s iron will to keep G-d’s for his plan. Siberia. commandments. With trembling fingers, Yosef The Vladimir Prison is a chilling Somehow he managed to observe, opened up the box of matches factory engaged in destroying man’s in the most primitive fashion and discovered that there were spirit. Inside the prison compound, imaginable, whatever mitzvot he 37 matches inside — exactly the there is no standard diet or menu. could. He virtually risked his life number he needed, with one extra to Prisoners’ rations are selected from not to work on Shabbat. He refused serve as a shamash, for the lights. 18 unnourishing varieties which to eat non-kosher food and avoided vary in the number of calories from chametz on Pesach. Late on the first night of Chanukah, sub-average to starvation level. when everyone was sleeping and no Likewise, the amount of exercise One frigid winter, a single thought guards were in sight, Yosef inserted and fresh air allotted to a prisoner managed to warm Yosef’s soul: the matches into his slivers of dry can range from two hours down to the holiday of Chanukah was bread and slices of potato. These none. Contact with the outside is approaching. scraps were his secret Chanukah limited to several letters a year, but menorah! this too can, and often is, curtailed. Yosef dreamed of how he would Technically a prisoner is allowed be able to observe the mitzvah of The matches burned for only a few two meetings a year with his family, lighting the candles, a seemingly seconds, but they provided endless but years can pass without any visits impossible act under the light and inspiration for Yosef at all. circumstances. Certainly, the prison Mendelevich in the depths of the authorities would never permit Vladimir Prison in Siberia. The KGB has an elaborate and it and would react harshly to the remarkably pragmatic way of very proposal of such a notion. Heard from Yacov Mordechai. controlling an inmate’s body and Regardless, Yosef put his mind to Rabbi Hanoch Teller, internationally- even his thoughts. After the initial the mission and developed a clever, acclaimed storyteller extraordinaire, is shock of life at Vladimir has been viable scheme. an award-winning author and producer | 31 Mizrachi’s Journey Mizrachi recently took its second trip to Poland. Debbie and Jeff Herz reflect on last year’s program below, with photos from this year’s trip on the facing page

he first stop on our Mizrachi songs around a campfire we built Jewish, carrying the Israeli flag and Journey to Poland – led by ourselves. davening in a group in public areas. Jeremy Kurnedz, Rav David TMilston and Rav Doron Perez – Another memorable experience It was late November and -5°C, was the Warsaw Jewish Cemetery, was our visit to Sugihara House in although in January and February the largest Jewish cemetery in Kovno, named after the Japanese it falls below -20°C. Tourists are the world, with 320,000 graves. Consul Sugihara, who – against rugged up, but 75 years ago the official orders – issued travel prisoners were often wearing only Those we visited included the permits enabling 6,000 Jews to one layer of clothes. Brisker Rav, the Netziv, Rav Yisrael escape from Lithuania, mostly to Taub – the Modzitser Rebbe, Shanghai. Nothing, no amount of reading famous for numerous niggunim, or film clips, can prepare you for The next day we walked through such as Mizmor LeDavid, Ani Auschwitz. In fact my mother another beautiful forest, following Ma’amin, and Eshet Chayil – used to tell us that unless you were train tracks that led to the infamous Adam Czerniakow, head of the incarcerated in these camps you Treblinka death factory. The Warsaw Ghetto Judenrat (Jewish could not imagine, even by visiting, Nazis totally destroyed the site Committee) who committed suicide the horrors that transpired there. and all that remains are 17,000 At the destroyed crematoria, we all rather than select 6,000 Jews per stones representing the victims’ emotionally recited for our day for deportation to the death communities. The only stone relatives who had no Jewish burial camps, and the famous author and representing an individual is for and no grave. playwright, Y.L. Peretz. Janusz Korczak, the educator who We spent two days in Lithuania in walked calmly with his beloved In short, the Mizrachi Journey to Kovno, the capital, and in Vilna. orphan children, leading them to Poland was unforgettable and life- The Jewish population on the eve of their – and his – final destination. changing. To quote Rav Milston, World War 2 was 265,000, forming Ten minutes’ drive from the center “The most effective way to realize a predominantly orthodox religious of is the Majdanek death the catastrophe of the Second World hub. Jewish culture and Hebrew camp, astoundingly located in the War is when we note how the once language were well developed, heart of suburbia, surrounded by richly populated communities of yeshivot flourished and high-level houses and opposite the Lublin Poland are on the one hand empty secular education was popular. University. Interestingly, the camp of Jews, whilst the cemeteries and However, there were those who was never destroyed and exists ditches are filled with our people foresaw difficult times ahead, and today as an education and tourist – zachor. Yet at the same time, we so between 1924 and 1933, there site. must appreciate that our ability was immigration to South Africa to go back and visit in triumph as and Eretz Yisrael, including the In Auschwitz, both the museum and a re-born entity is largely due to relocation of the Slobodka Yeshiva camps have thousands of visitors those who gave us the strength for to Hebron. daily. We had to remind ourselves self-preservation – shamor. It was to not be angry at the “tourist that shamor that has enabled us to One of the more uplifting feel” but to be grateful that people re-build into a strong and vibrant experiences was walking deep into were at least being educated about nation.” the Rudnicki Forest at night, to a this horrendously evil place. It partisan cave, and singing partisan was comforting to us to be openly Am Yisrael Chai!

32 | A moment of reflection in Majdanek The group at the entrance to Auschwitz-Birkenau

Rabbi Shmuel Mohilever’s synagogue in Białystok The Warsaw Jewish Cemetery

Learning Daf Yomi at Yeshivat Chachmei Lublin Celebrating life at the grave of Reb Elimelech of Leżajsk

| 33 Rabbanit Noa Lau

NOTHING, EXCEPT FOR A JUG OF OIL

he miraculous finding of a bringing [vessels] to her and keep flowing, but when there are no small jug of oil is the story she kept pouring. When the more vessels, the oil also stops. The that accompanies us from vessels were full, she said to her prophet wants to show us that we Tnursery school on, illuminat- son, ‘Bring me another vessel.’ already have the remedy at home. ing Chanukah as the “festival of He answered her, ‘There are A single portion of oil in the wom- lights,” when G-d brought light to no more vessels;’ and the oil an’s home is enough to bring great the Temple Menorah the Greeks stopped. She came and told the bounty. had desecrated through that small man of G-d, and he said, ‘Go This is also the story of the second amount of oil that lasted eight days. sell the oil and pay your debt, miracle of the oil, the Chanukah and you and your children can However, there is an earlier story story. The Chanukah miracle func- live on the rest.’ that describes a miracle involving tions similarly to Elisha’s miracle. A a cruse of oil. It appears in Mela- The opening portrait is chilling. small quantity of oil with the High 1 chim, part of the cycle of miracle The regime has lost sight of human Priest’s seal suffices to light the stories involving the prophet Elisha. beings. If a poor widow has debts, Menorah for eight days. This is the It is a short narrative, but we can the creditor can claim her children secret of using the inner reserve of learn a lot about the attitudes the as slaves, and the State will do noth- energy that is the source of light and Torah wishes to imbue in us with ing to intervene. How the prophet goodness. As the Psalmist says in a regard to the significance of mira- handles the woman’s cries teaches hymn to “the servant of the L-rd”: cles in general. us an important lesson about how “With You is the fountain of life; by Your light do we see light.”2 A certain woman, the wife we ought to behave here in the pres- of one of the disciples of the ent. He does not create something The secret of both miracles is that prophets, cried out to Elisha: from nothing. Rather, the miracle when asked, “What have you in the ‘Your servant, my husband is is that he creates something from house?” the answer is – I have some- dead, and you know how your something. He asks the woman to thing. Even when one has a sense of servant revered the L-rd. And check what she has at home. At first, emptiness or failure, it is reasonable now a creditor is coming to she answers, “Your maidservant to assume that deep down there is seize my two children as slaves.’ has nothing at all,” but after some always some “small cruse” with the Elisha said to her, ‘What can I effort, she finds a jug of oil. That seal of the high priest. From this one do for you? Tell me, what have was enough for the prophet. He positive starting point, beginning you in the house?’ She replied, instructs her to bring vessels, and he with our own efforts, it will then be ‘Your maidservant has noth- starts pouring oil into the vessels. possible to chart a path that culmi- ing at all in the house, except This is the first “miracle of the oil.” nates with blessings from Heaven. for a jug of oil.’ ‘Go,’ he said, ‘and borrow vessels outside, The person who needs a miracle from all your neighbors, empty brings the initial vessel. The miracle 1 Melachim II, 4:1-7. vessels, as many as you can. can then begin. This is the starting 2 Tehillim 36. Then go in and shut the door point from which the miracle flows, behind you and your children, and the magnitude of the miracle is determined not by the prophet but Rabbanit Noa Lau, Associate Dean of and pour [oil] into all those , is a Yoetzet Halacha, the Moshe vessels, removing each one by the woman’s efforts and exer- and Charlotte Green Chair of Jewish Law as it is filled.’ She went away tions. She collects the vessels, and at Nishmat, and the Program Coordinator and shut the door behind her the oil fills up those vessels. As long of Nishmat’s Keren Ariel Yoatzot Halacha and her children. They kept as there are still vessels, the oil will Training Program

34 | Dr. Deena Zimmerman

Religious or Secular It’s Up to Us

hanukah – our celebration first assures their solid foundation that the Torah was the purpose of of the Temple rededication in the fear of G-d, other wisdom the Creation. after the Maccabees’ victory can then be explored and studied. In Cagainst the Seleucids rulers – tends the face of an appropriate attitude, Another meaning of bishvil is “in to lead to discussions regarding exposure to foreign thought will not the path of.” Here, bishvil haTorah the conflict between Western undermine one’s belief in G-d. means in the path of the Torah. civilization and Torah. This is The world was created in the path not surprising, as Antiochus IV The Sifra also takes having a of the Torah and thus the two enacted a number of decrees with solid foundation in Torah into are inseparable, hence there is no the clear purpose of preventing consideration but is more concerned distinction between the secular and the observance of key elements of about the balance. “You shall do my the Divine. the Torah such as brit mila and commandments and observe my If one truly believes that G-d Shabbat. This is stressed in the rules to follow them I am the L-rd 3 created the world and all of its words of Al HaNissim: your G-d.” What does it mean to follow them? physical manifestations, no “secular “In the days of Matityahu, the son study” actually exists. If one views of Yochanan the High Priest, the That you make them primary (ikar) humanity as a Divine creation, Hasmonean and his sons, when the and not secondary (tafel). That then study of the humanities is the wicked Greek government rose up all your business shall be in them. study of the Divine. What makes against Your people Israel to make You shall not say, I have finished something “secular” is actively them forget Your Torah and violate learning all the wisdom of Israel removing G-d from the discipline, the decrees of Your will.” and now I can go on and learn other not the discipline itself. wisdom. This was further expanded While the Maccabees were initially by Rav Shimshon Raphael Hirsch With this approach, there is victorious, the cultural battle (1808-1888), specifically to discuss no conflict between a religious continued with increased Hellenism the balance between secular and approach and the secular world, infiltrating the dynasty until its Torah studies. Secular studies can because they are inseparable. final demise. The connection was be pursued, but one has to be sure All areas of study, whether they not lost in Rabbinic tradition. of the primacy of the Torah. be science, law or the arts, are During the civil war that followed potentially holy if one approaches I would like to offer yet another the reign of Shlomtzion the Queen, them with that perspective. a certain sage who knew “the approach by going back to the wisdom of the Greeks” contributed very beginning, the first verse of If one realizes that the basis of to the downfall of the Temple the Torah. In his commentary wisdom is the fear of G-d and worship. “At that point, they stated: on the word bereishit, usually prioritizes Torah, then what we cursed is the man who teaches his translated as “in the beginning,” are doing is Torah. Whether it is son the wisdom of the Greeks.”1 taking the bet to mean “in” and religious or secular is up to us. reishit to mean “beginning,” as in Much has been written about this the verse of quoted above. decree and its application to modern Rashi, however, offers another 1 Sotah 49b. secular studies. One approach possibility: the bet means bishvil, 2 Psalms 111. is that of the medieval biblical usually translated as “for” and 3 Vayikra 18:4. commentator, Rav David Kimche says the creation of the world was Dr. Deena Zimmerman is a pediatrician (1160-1235): “The beginning of bishvil haTorah, for the Torah. We and Director of yoatzot.org, a website wisdom is the fear of G-d.”2 If one generally understand Rashi to mean for women’s health and halacha

| 35 Mrs. Naomi Schrager

בית מזרחי An Internal Struggle BEIT

ach year, as we celebrate the very soul of Judaism. As our tra- Years ago, I heard an incredible Chanukah, we read the dition flirted and ultimately clashed answer from Rabbi Dovid Ebner: parshiot that comprise the with Greek culture, many Jews shed perhaps the extra night of lighting EYosef narrative. We follow his their old ways, preferring to don the and the extra recitation of Hallel is World Mizrachi is privileged to present a descent to the prisons of Egypt Greek fashion of the day, choose to celebrate and praise G-d for the and his eventual ascent to become Greek names for their children, and fact that oil burns at all. The mira- new initiative in partnership with OU-JLIC second only to Pharaoh. submit to the Hellenistic zeitgeist. cle we call nature. Throughout his journey, Yosef is At first, there was an attempt to There is a story in Masechet Ta’anit Beit Mizrachi advances Jewish education, leadership and confronted with an entirely new synthesize these new ways with about Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa, a community for a new generation of college students in and different environment than Judaism. Indeed, this initial meeting man who was no stranger to mir- that of his childhood. He is given an of cultures left indelible marks on acles. One Shabbat, he found his Israel by providing: Egyptian name, dressed in Egyptian our history (certain Greek names daughter very upset. She explained clothes and he marries an Egyptian became accepted as Jewish, the first that instead of using oil, she had • engaging and dynamic Jewish education woman. In fact, when his brothers translation of the Torah was Greek, accidentally lit the Shabbat can- • a welcoming religious community for students arrive in Egypt, they don’t recognize and undeniable traces of Greek dles using vinegar, which of course him at all! philosophy crept their way into our would not ignite. Rav Chanina • a warm and supportive home environment for students responded that she should not It seems that Yosef discarded philosophical treatises). However, despair because just as G-d causes his previous identity and fully as tensions mounted and the battles • resources for personal and religious growth the oil to burn, He can cause vine- embraced his new Egyptian sur- of the Chanukah story drew near, gar to burn as well. The flames from roundings. However, Yosef never the Chashmonaim, with the name her candles not only burned but felt abandoned by or far from G-d. of G-d on their lips, charged ahead to sanctify that which had become lasted until the end of Shabbat. Nechama Leibowitz points out that are the founding profaned. Rav Josh and Margot Botwinick almost every time we hear Yosef Interestingly, the Rambam chose couple of the thriving Jewish community of speak in the story, he has the name In the aftermath, the miracle of to discuss the laws of the recita- IDC Herzliya. They have successfully engaged of G-d on his lips. Chanukah was that we never lost tion of Hallel in the middle of the hundreds of students in Jewish life and learning Yosef consistently speaks of G-d to sight of G-d’s hand in the world, laws of Chanukah. Perhaps this is and supported the Aliyah of an entire community those around him, even insisting despite the seismic changes thrust to teach us that the ultimate praise of students. that his powers of dream interpreta- upon our people. We decried the of G-d comes from our insistence tion are not his own talent, but a gift Greek attempt to rationalize every- that He is running the world. When from G-d. thing, instead finding even the most we find ourselves surrounded by a natural of events to be the work of foreign, secular culture, we might Yosef firmly believes in G-d and G-d. change our fashion, our language, Rav Yehuda and Chagit Peles are the pioneer His control over the seemingly our names. However, the true test Beit Mizrachi couple at Givat Shmuel and Bar-Ilan random events of his life. This The Beit Yosef posed a simple but of our longevity is whether we see University. They have an open house for young understanding and his own expe- critical question about the holiday G-d’s hand in the world and keep adults at all stages in life, whether a student at riences allow him to transmit his of Chanukah. If there was enough G-d’s name on our lips. This is the Bar-Ilan, a young professional, or a young couple faith and the legacy of the Avot to oil found to last for one day, why do legacy of Yosef and the miracle of working in Tel Aviv or elsewhere. his children, despite their Egyptian we light candles for eight nights? Chanukah. surroundings. Why do we say Hallel for eight days? Surely the first day was not a mira- This idea is central to the Chanukah cle at all but nature! story. The war was not only a war of Mrs. Naomi Schrager produces Jewish “The first Shabbat made us realize how much we had been missing national liberation from an occupy- So many answers have been pro- learning content for students around a strong sense of community with a real Torah presence. We never ing Greek army. The struggle was posed that books have been written the world and teaches post-high school also an internal one — a battle for to respond to this question alone. students in Israel had a minyan or community that was ours and where we felt comfortable. Beit Mizrachi has already brought that to the area, 36 | and hundreds of students are excited to be involved.” — Yoni בית מזרחי BEIT

World Mizrachi is privileged to present a new initiative in partnership with OU-JLIC

Beit Mizrachi advances Jewish education, leadership and community for a new generation of college students in Israel by providing: • engaging and dynamic Jewish education • a welcoming religious community for students • a warm and supportive home environment for students • resources for personal and religious growth

Rav Josh and Margot Botwinick are the founding couple of the thriving Jewish community of IDC Herzliya. They have successfully engaged hundreds of students in Jewish life and learning and supported the Aliyah of an entire community of students.

Rav Yehuda and Chagit Peles are the pioneer Beit Mizrachi couple at Givat Shmuel and Bar-Ilan University. They have an open house for young adults at all stages in life, whether a student at Bar-Ilan, a young professional, or a young couple working in Tel Aviv or elsewhere.

“The first Shabbat made us realize how much we had been missing a strong sense of community with a real Torah presence. We never had a minyan or community that was ours and where we felt comfortable. Beit Mizrachi has already brought that to the area, and hundreds of students are excited to be involved.” — Yoni ISRAEL INSIGHT

David M. Weinberg

prepare for war, the right way

srael must prepare simultane- outcomes because it has not suffi- from convincingly demonstrating ously for a broad range of war ciently considered an essential ele- its capacity to carry-out forceful scenarios. This includes the ment – the enemy. ground offensives. Idevelopment of a credible Israeli capacity to strike Iranian nuclear The enemy has learned lessons Ground maneuver also has a moral targets; preparation for war on three from every confrontation, becoming dimension. It is the duty of the fronts against an Iranian-led coa- skilled in denying the IDF accurate government and the military to lition; the ability to degrade enemy intelligence and/or minimizing the remove any threat to the home effects of pinpoint Israeli firepower. offensive capabilities in the two Pal- front as quickly as possible. A situ- Enemy techniques aimed at under- estinian arenas, and the ability to ation in which civilians become the cutting the utility of the “Intel-Fire- withstand intense missile wars. IDF’s shield is unacceptable. This power” approach include fortify- amounts to the abandonment of In each of these scenarios, it will be ing facilities, going underground, the civilian population. Consider vitally important to quickly force an dispersing and hiding assets, using the long-term suffering of Israelis end to enemy fire on Israel’s popu- human shields, and more. who live in the Gaza envelope. Or lation centers; to deny Hezbollah the daylong shutdown of greater Tel In most clashes, a deleterious and its Iranian masters, as well as Aviv that Islamic Jihad imposed on dynamic has repeated itself. At Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Israel in November. first, Israel successfully launches a Jihad, the comfort of launching mis- salvo of firepower based on accu- siles at ease from territories under It should be recalled that at the rate intelligence gathered over a their control. beginning of the Palestinian terror long period of time. Then follows campaign of 2000-2001, the gov- No air defense system will be a decline in the quality of target- ernment was unwilling to maneuver enough. Israel must have ground ing intelligence with an attendant with ground forces into Palestin- forces capable of swift and crushing reduction in the number of targets ian cities, and even within the IDF maneuvers to attain decisive out- which justify a strike, and a recovery it was common wisdom that the comes by taking the fight deep into by the enemy and a continuation of capture of significant territory was enemy territory and breaking its its attacks against Israel. unnecessary. Hundreds of lives were will to fight. Subsequent Israeli frustration leads lost until the IDF was sent into the to attacks on targets with high col- cities of Judea and Samaria. Then, In other words, Israel must bring indeed, the IDF was able to achieve back the doctrine known as lateral damage or on useless tar- gets, alongside an immense effort solid security results through hachra’ah (decisive outcome). to acquire new quality targets, ground maneuver. The recent JISS National Security which can lead to an occasional While no large conventional armies Plan (see jiss.org.il) argues against success (but this does not alter the today threaten Israel, the situation general picture). What follows is a sole reliance on the “Intel-Fire- could change. If a radical Muslim prolonged war campaign, leading power” nexus – intelligence, special Brotherhood regime should rise in a to public anger and frustration and operations, and accurate stand-off country like Egypt, or if the Syrian limited ground forces maneuver, firepower – which has been the IDF army is rebuilt after that country’s not sufficiently effective to bring the operational doctrine since the end civil war, the IDF must be ready. enemy to the point of collapse. of the First Lebanon War in 1982. Bear in mind that building ground forces is a complex process that This approach is an important Consequently, a return to combat takes time. Neglecting IDF ground adjunct, not an alternative, to signif- along more traditional lines is maneuver capabilities is, therefore, a icant ground combat. inevitable in many cases. This means maneuvering into enemy dangerous gamble. The equation, “accurate intel multi- territory, locating and destroying David M. Weinberg is vice president plied by precision-guided firepower enemy forces. Only this will break of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy equals destruction and collapse of the spirit of the enemy. To restore and Security. His personal site is the enemy,” has led to suboptimal deterrence, Israel must not shy away davidmweinberg.com

38 | ISRAEL INSIGHT

Stephen M. Flatow

jews versus jews, then and now

he triumph of Chanukah Indyk and his right-hand man, invitation to Yasir Arafat to visit the actually begins with the trag- David Makovsky, played major roles United States Holocaust Memorial edy of Chanukah. The story in shaping American policy toward Museum. Tthat ends in the miraculous Jewish Israel in several US administrations. victory over the Greeks starts with But for some reason, these ex-gov- an intra-Jewish conflict, as Jewish The theme of their work has been ernment officials believe that no Hellenizers try to convince their remarkably consistent: Israel should matter how many mistakes they fellow Jews to accommodate the be pressured to agree to the estab- have made – no matter how many enemy’s demands, for the sake of lishment of an independent “State of times they have advocated policies peace. Palestine” in almost all of Judea-Sa- that have undermined Israel – we maria and Gaza. are supposed to continue trusting So many of the major crises in their judgment. Ross and Makovsky Makovsky has even developed a Jewish history, from the Exodus are now on a book tour, arguing for series of maps designed to prove from Egypt through to modern the “gradual” creation of a Palestin- that since many Jewish residents of times, involve the tragic specter of ian state in Israel’s back yard. the territories live close to the old a Jewish faction urging their fellow 1967 lines, a Palestinian state could Jews to give in. Of course, each sit- I don’t see how gradually reducing be created without having to expel Israel to nine miles wide is any safer uation is different. Sometimes the all of them en masse. than doing it all at once. Jews who take the other side are well-intentioned. And we should be The most interesting thing about I’m not comparing the Jewish State careful about questioning motives Makovsky’s maps is not his desire Department officials to Jews who or making overheated accusations. to move the Jewish residents of took the other side in past histori- But at the same time, we need to be Judea-Samaria around like figures cal episodes, whether in the days of equally careful not to be lulled into on a chessboard. It’s the fact that Egypt or the days of the Maccabees. complacency by the fact that those every one of his maps shows Qalqi- History will decide if any such anal- individuals are fellow Jews. lya and Tulkarm as part of the ogies are appropriate. future “Palestine.” In December 1989, American Jews What I’m saying is that any plan were startled to read in the New That means Makovsky’s “peace” that reduces Israel to nine miles York Times that the architects of plan will reduce Israel to nine miles wide is a bad plan, even if it is advo- the shocking US recognition of wide at its mid-section, just like in cated by a Jew, and even if that Jew Yasir Arafat and the PLO were two the pre-1967 days, when an Arab wears a yarmulke on his head. In Jewish officials in the State Depart- tank column could cut the Jewish ancient times, there were undoubt- ment, Daniel Kurtzer and Dennis State in two in a matter of minutes. edly some Jews who were lulled into Ross. going along with dangerous propos- Every once in a while, one of these als simply because they were pro- Kurtzer and Ross insisted Arafat Jewish ex-State Department officials moted by a fellow Jew. Let us not had become “moderate,” but 18 will publicly admit that they made repeat that mistake. months later, President Bush was some grievous error in the past. forced to sever relations with Arafat Dennis Ross has acknowledged (on the op-ed page of the Washington after a PLO faction attempted to Stephen M. Flatow, an attorney in New Post) that he was wrong to pressure carry out a massacre of Jews on the Jersey, is the father of Alisa Flatow, who Tel Aviv beachfront. Israel to let Hamas import concrete was murdered in an Iranian-sponsored since Hamas used it to build terror Palestinian terrorist attack in 1995. In the years to follow, Kurtzer and tunnels. Aaron Miller has admit- He is the author of “A Father’s Story: Ross, together with Richard Haass ted (also in the Post) that he was My Fight for Justice Against Iranian and Aaron Miller, and later Martin wrong to orchestrate the notorious Terrorism,” now available on Kindle

| 39 SOCIAL COMMENTARY

Rabbi Chaim Navon

BLACK and WHITE?

n a third grade Chanukah play, Marx who introduced this thinking. non-personal power struggles of someone must be Antiochus. In his “Communist Manifesto,” classes and sectors and genders, Eight children will be candles Marx argued that the history of only exploitation and glass ceilings Iand one shamash, and some will every society is a history of class and oppression. be Mattityahu and his sons and a wars. All aspects of our lives are a Sadly, sometimes power really few other Maccabees, but without manifestation of visible and hidden does creep into our relationships. Antiochus – no play. That is why power struggles. Religion, culture, The Torah taught us this with the the Western world is hostile to family – all are just manifestations curse of Eve: “Your urge shall be Israel, and even international ath- of evil and oppressive control. for your husband, And he shall rule letes do not want to visit: the world 1 has cast us in the role of Antiochus. Marx thought all power struggles over you.” We must be accurate revolve around money and property. though. It is not that the family is a The Western world has become After Marx’s failure, today’s neo- patriarchal system based on power accustomed to seeing the universe Marxists abandoned the economic relations, but that power relations as a stage upon which there are only emphasis and began to talk about try to sneak into the family, which two sets of actors: strong and weak, power and oppression in broader precedes and is more important oppressors and oppressed. When contexts. Culture not only serves than them. Power is just one human trying to compress the Israeli-Arab the economy but establishes elusive weakness but it does not control conflict into this mindset, it is clear power relationships on completely everything. Power and control are how the roles will be divided. The different levels. The difficulty not the foundations of the family, Arabs lose wars, so they do not fit in detecting these oppressive but one of the problems the family the role of oppressor. This is how we relationships just proves how good faces. became the oppressors, especially in the privileged oppressors are at Social institutions – family, home, the eyes of the intellectuals. But of their job. course that is not who we really are. community and people – should not be powerful organizations of lasting This worldview captivates its The story of our resurrection in this oppression, but a fresh life force supporters because it gives them Land is not a story of power and that bridges the common root with an intoxicating feeling of exposing oppression. It is a story of love and the young flowers. In our complex collusion. Everyone else delineates hope, of great faith, and of sorrow world, there is also corrupted that the family is based on love, and pain. It is a story of the gamut power, but it is not everything. Our that religion relies on faith, of bright colors, not of black and world is not a haunted black and that the community relies on white. white wasteland but a colorful and friendship. Only the sophisticated flowering garden. Nevertheless, the problem is that intellectuals understand that the black and white mindset, the family is an institution of the division of the world into patriarchal oppression, that religion 1 Bereishit 3:16. oppressor and oppressed, is part is an opium for the masses, that of a comprehensive worldview that the community is an arena for has taken over the Western world. domination and exploitation. There It addresses not only Israel, and are no individuals in the world who Rabbi Chaim Navon is a renowned not only policy issues. It was Karl choose to do good or bad, but only author and educator

40 | Rabbi Chaim Navon Rabbi David Milston

BLACK and Eight Days a Week WHITE? he Tur provides us with the And with the little remnants of involvement in the running of the source of our Chanukah oil, a miracle occurred to the world, He occasionally intervenes Tcelebrations: Roses3 using supernatural means. “Idolaters entered the Holy Temple Men of understanding fixed In the interim between Sukkot and desecrated the oil within. And eight days of song and praise.” and Pesach, our spiritual winter when the Chashmonaim… searched so to speak, it seems all the more and only found a very small How are we to interpret the phrase appropriate we dedicate a day to measure of untouched pure oil with “men of understanding fixed eight celebrate routine and mundane which to light the Menorah. This days”? Surely, if one day’s worth of Nature. oil still had the original seal of the oil ‘burns without being consumed’ Kohen Gadol… but there was such a for over a week, one needn’t have This could certainly be another minute quantity of pure oil, it would any special intelligence to register reason why we light our Chanukiot never suffice for the time required that something very special has outside in the darkness. As the to bring a new supply of pure just occurred. So why “men of Netivot Shalom explains, our oil – in fact there was just about understanding”? objective is to find G-d specifically enough oil for the first night alone. in the darkness. Yet miraculously, this small pure Rav Moshe comments that the Men of understanding will celebrate measure lasted a full eight days. In celebration of the first day of for eight days – they understand subsequent years, in celebration Chanukah is not a celebration of this wonder, our Rabbis fixed of the miracle but of Nature the number eight sheds a revealing eight days of celebration to thank itself. Appreciating G-d when He light upon the seven. Just as eight the Almighty for the miracles he performs miracles is one thing; symbolizes the supernatural that bestowed upon us.”1 acknowledging the same G-d emanates from G-d, so the seven, sustaining Nature is another. the week, represents the natural The Beit Yosef asks why eight days G-d-given phenomena surrounding and not seven. There was enough Not only must we appreciate that us every day. oil for one day so the miracle was a small amount of oil burned for making it last for another seven, not longer than it was meant to but we eight. must also internalize the fact that 1 Orach Chaim 670, in direct reference to oil burns at all. The point is that the Shabbat 21b. The Beit Yosef himself offers a both miracles and nature derive 2 Drash Moshe, Chanukah. number of explanations; however, a from the same source. Therefore, 3 A term often used for Am Yisrael, initially beautiful answer to the question is “men of understanding fixed eight used in Shir HaShirim 2:2. suggested by Rav , days” – those with deeper insight when explaining the song Maoz fixed a festival of eight days, adding Tzur:2 a day to remember the miracle of “The Greeks gathered against Nature. me during the Chashmonaic Rabbi David Milston is Director of When Chazal decided to establish period Overseas Programs at Midreshet Chanukah, they wanted to HaRova and the author of “The Three And they breached the walls of emphasize something fundamental Pillars” series on the weekly parasha, my towers and made all the oil to our understanding of the world. “Ki Va Moed” on the holidays, and impure In addition to the Almighty’s daily “Eternity,” a study of Nevi'im Rishonim

| 41 Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Brody

FEASTS AND MIRACLES

hile we all enjoy potato In support of this position, Rabbi emphasized this opportunity to latkes and sufganiyot Mordechai Jaffe (Levush) noted sanctify the mundane. The Munk- (donuts) on Chanukah, that on Purim, our enemies tried to atcher Rebbe, for example, held spe- Wit remains striking that the holi- physically annihilate us and thereby cial dinners on Chanukah to trans- day uniquely lacks an established prevent us from the ability to enjoy form these meals into holy feasts, festive meal. The three major holi- the tangible pleasures of existence. while others emphasized the unique days – Pesach, Sukkot, and Shavuot To celebrate the physical salvation, opportunity to initiate a spiritual – all include joyful feasts based the Sages decreed a physical, festive experience. on the requirement of rejoicing on celebration to go with the spiritual these days. Many commentators actions we perform to give thanks This position highlights an import- believe that , despite and praise to G-d. On Chanukah, ant message of the holiday. Follow- being a Day of Judgment, still has a however, the Greeks did not aim to ing the Maccabbean victory, the requirement to rejoice with festive physically destroy us but to compel Jews needed to recognize that the meals, even if it remains appropri- us to give up our spiritual heritage glorious military victory came from ate to temper the scope of luxurious and become Hellenized. As such, the hand of G-d. To this end, the foods. While one cannot eat on Yom this is a holiday of spiritual salva- Maharal of Prague asserted, G-d Kippur, many deemed the prepa- tion for which no festive meals, a created (and the Sages emphasized) ratory meal beforehand as a festive mark of physical redemption, are the miracle of the oil so that the meal in celebration of the holiday required. Others have alternatively people should recognize that both and the atonement it promises. suggested that a joyful celebration of these wondrous miracles – the was inappropriate for Chanukah war victory and the oil lasting eight As such, it remains unsurprising since, in contrast to Purim, the Jews days – came from Him. As such, that the Sages included a celebratory suffered heavy casualties during one of the themes of this holiday is feast amongst the requirements for these hostilities. the sanctification of the mundane Purim. Yet the Talmud makes no via the recognition of G-d’s Omni- explicit mention of a similar dec- A middle-ground position adopted presence and His ability to affect laration regarding Chanukah, the by some Ashkenazic scholars, the world, whether on the battlefield other holiday created by the Sages. including Rabbi Moshe Isserles or in the Temple. (The custom to commemorate the (Rema), asserted that there is a oil miracle by consuming oily foods “small mitzvah” of festive meals Chanukah feasts allow us to mani- emerged much later and remains on these days, because the holi- fest our appreciation of this lesson. optional.) day marks the rededication of the Every time we eat, we have the abil- Temple altar. The Rema further ity to transform this normal meal According to Rambam and others, adds, “We are accustomed to sing- into a seudat mitzvah through songs Chanukah does contain an element ing songs of happiness and praise of praise and thanks. Just as the of simcha which is fulfilled through at these meals, and thereby they Jews of old understood their phys- a festive meal. Rabbi Shlomo Luria become seudot mitzvah (authorized ical accomplishments as Divine forcefully endorsed this position, celebrations).” In other words, the intervention, so too can we turn arguing that a joyful thanksgiving possibility of seudot mitzvah exists our holiday parties into religious celebration properly publicizes the on this holiday, yet they can only events. Festive meals might not be miracle. However, many authorities, take place through human initia- obligatory, but the ability to create including Rabbi Yosef Karo, contend tive. When these meals include a seudat mitzvah reflects the oppor- that there is no mitzvah of eating on praises of G-d that clearly manifest tunity of internalizing this central Chanukah. They note that in the Tal- the religious significance of the day, lesson of Chanukah. mudic passage which delineates the they become mitzvot. Without these essence of the holiday, the Sages only Adapted from Rabbi Brody’s “A Guide to spiritual ingredients, they are just a the Complex: Contemporary Halakhic assert that this is a day of hallel ve-ho- regular meal. da’a, praise and thanks, and never Debates” (Maggid, 2014). mention the obligation to have a fes- As Prof. Meir Rafeld has docu- Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Brody is an author, tive meal. mented, many Chassidic teacher and law fellow

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Have a Start-Up? To be featured in this section, please email [email protected] Rabbi Stewart Weiss

LIVES OF FLAME AND FORTUNE

hanukah has always been people, they should do so without Often, in today’s Jewish world, we associated with freedom, relying on any short-cuts in the law. search for ways to streamline, tweak as the upstart Hasmonean Better to wait, they decided, and and adjust the law – both Jewish Ccommunity threw off the yoke of thereby adhere to the very highest of and secular – so that it becomes as Greek domination and reclaimed standards. palatable as possible to our tastes, its independence. And it high- without crossing the red line of lights the ever-present miraculous 35 years ago, when I visited the disobedience or illegality. That is hand of G-d, evidenced by both the refusenik community in pre- not necessarily a bad thing; I was against-all-odds victory in the war, Perestroika Russia, among the ritual always taught that our task as rabbis as well as the little cruse, the oil that items I took with me were a number is to make Judaism as accessible and astoundingly lasted eight full days. of ketubot (marriage documents). attractive as possible to the wider I offered to perform weddings for Jewish community. But Chanukah is also about the couples who had married civilly, but struggle for purity in an often not in a religious ceremony, due to a But it is also imperative that there diluted and deluded world. lack of Rabbis. be those select individuals who reject the path of least resistance We light eight lights in our The issue was raised that none of and choose instead to always take chanukiah to commemorate the the women would be able to go to the high road, people whose conduct eight days it took to secure new, the (ritual bath) before the is unsullied and unadulterated, free untainted oil. But why so long? One ceremony. of short-cuts and compromises. opinion is that the oil was produced These may be politicians with in a region four days travel from One refusenik explained that this impeccable integrity, Israeli soldiers Yerushalayim. was dangerous for Jews in the USSR as they would be photographed who enthusiastically choose combat Another opinion is that due to the as they entered, and targeted as roles at the risk of their lives, or men war and its many casualties, the social deviants and enemies of the and women who demonstrate there people were tamei, ritually impure, State. As such, they stayed away. I are no upper limits to our ability and were required to wait seven explained to the couples that, while to conform to G-d’s will and Man’s days before they could become mikvah was indeed a prerequisite law. These rare and outstanding tahor, ritually pure. Only then could for Jewish marriage, the Poskim I personalities are the Maccabees of they process new oil, which took an consulted had instructed me that history, rays of brilliant light that additional day, and thus the eight- in this extenuating circumstance, show us mere mortals the way. day wait. it was preferable for the couples Models and monuments for us all to to perform the religious ceremony emulate. The rabbis question if this delay now, and visit a mikveh later, when Yaakov Kirschen (of Dry Bones was necessary, for there is a halacha, it was safe. stated by the Ramban1 “tumah fame) once wrote: The question is hutra beTzibur” – that if the entire After some discussion, one of the not how the cruse of oil lasted for nation is impure, in effect no-one is women stepped forward and said: eight days; the question is how we impure! Thus the Temple officials “We appreciate your offer and Jews have lasted throughout the could have immediately secured accept that we would be allowed centuries! The answer, I suggest, new oil and re-lit the Menorah! So to marry religiously, without the are the living flasks of pure oil and why did they wait? mikveh. But we are going to wait pure faith whose flame can never be until we can wed in a full-fledged, extinguished. While this permissibility did indeed 100% manner, no less than the most exist, the victorious Maccabees observant of Jews would do. That did not want to rely upon it. They day will come, we believe, and then 1 Bamidbar 31. felt that if they were going to there will be no footnote or asterisk re-dedicate the Beit HaMikdash, by our names.” Rabbi Stewart Weiss is Director of the if they were going to jumpstart Jewish Outreach Center of Ra’anana the spiritual engine of the Jewish I was impressed beyond words. [email protected]

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Rabbi Yechiel Wasserman

A Light Unto the Nations ne of the mitzvot unique to Through the Exodus and the trek G-d is not seeking admiration. Chanukah is pirsumei nisa, in the wilderness, the Jewish people He wants us to remember and publicizing the mitzvah. In were totally passive. The miracles commemorate the miracles so we Oaddition to lighting the Chanukah were performed exclusively by will keep and observe the mitzvot. candles, it is also mandatory to place G-d. As we read in the Pesach Consequently, the observance of them at the entrance to one’s home, Haggadah: “I, G-d, did this – and the mitzvot on Pesach and Sukkot in full view, so that passersby will see not any angel, any seraph or any does not have to be done in public. the lights. Our Sages also designated intermediary.” It is not necessary to publicize the a specific time frame for lighting the mitzvah. Chanukah candles – from sunset However, on Chanukah, the Jewish until the streets become empty. people instigated the miracle. However, on Chanukah and Purim, There is no specific time; rather, When the Greeks issued edicts it is not enough to observe the it depends on the location. That adversely affecting the spiritual mitzvah in private. Rather, the explains why the halacha uses the life of the Jews, forbidding them validity of the mitzvah derives from special terminology “until foot traffic from studying Torah and observing it being publicized. The candles ceases in the marketplace” – in other mitzvot, the Matityahu was the burning on the streets of the city, words, until people are no longer one who took the initiative. He where everyone can see them, boost outdoors and on the streets. recruited his sons and appealed to the self-confidence of the Jewish the Jewish people: “Whoever is with If we look at the mitzvot related to people and remind us –and those G-d, come to me.” The Hasmoneans Sukkot and Pesach for example, around us –that we have a special declared war on the Greeks and there is no obligation to publicize mission to be “a light unto the hundreds enlisted to take part them. Pesach is a reminder of G-d nations.” in the struggle. A great miracle taking us out of Egypt. Sukkot occurred as the few prevailed over commemorates G-d’s protection during the 40 years in the desert. the many and the weak prevailed Rabbi Yechiel Wasserman heads the over the strong. They then entered Center for Religious Affairs in the Why is Chanukah – and Purim the Temple, rededicated it and lit Diaspora and is a member of the World – different? candles. Zionist Organization Executive

46 | RELIGIOUS ZIONIST LEADERS

Continuing our series about the leaders who have shaped over the last 150 years rabbi yehuda solomon alkalai

ehuda Solomon Alkalai was in the Midrash and homiletic devoted himself to spreading these born in Sarajevo (Bosnia) in literature, that the Messiah, son of ideas through writing and speeches 1798. He spent his childhood Yosef, would first come to lead the within Western European Jewish Yin Yerushalayim studying with people of Israel in the apocalyptic communities. He approached such various rabbis and it was there war of Gog and Magog and would leaders as Montefiore and he came under the influence of then re-conquer the Land of Israel, Adolph Cremieux for their political the – Jewish mysticism. freeing it from foreign domination. and financial support. In 1825, he became the Rabbi of Semlin (in Serbia). At that time, the Rabbi Alkalai’s views were Rabbi Alkalai was convinced that Serbs, as well as other nationalities further reinforced in 1840, with it would be possible to buy part within the Balkan States, were the occurrence of the Damascus or even most of the Holy Land from the Turkish government, greatly influenced by the Greek Blood Libel, which shook the very as Avraham had done at the cave War of Independence and the foundations of the Jewish world, of Machpela when he bought prevailing atmosphere of rebellion and elements of the non-Jewish land from Ephron the Hittite. against foreign Turkish rule. world too. He dreamed of establishing a With this resurgence of national worldwide organization along pride and desire for independence, the lines of the various national the entire Balkan area became organizations, then prevalent divided among different nations among other European nations. and peoples. There is no doubt that The purpose of these organizations these events influenced Alkalai would be to buy and reclaim land, and brought him to the realization as well as providing loans for that the time had come for Jewish new settlers. These ideas were nationalism to reassert itself among subsequently adopted by Herzl and the Jewish people. the World Zionist Organization.

In 1834, with the publication of Rabbi Alkalai also traveled to a small booklet entitled Shema different cities attempting to Yisrael, Rabbi Alkalai raised set up a basic structure for the the issue of Jewish political organization he envisioned. One independence and the Land of such group was established in Israel for the first time. In his essay, London but it did not last long he proposed a beginning of Jewish enough to have any substantial settlement in the Land of Israel impact upon the masses. as a precursor to the Messianic This scandal convinced Rabbi Redemption. Rabbi Alkalai wanted to convince Alkalai (and many other members people that his plan for at least Such an idea was not only original of the younger generation such part of the Jewish nation to but was considered heretical among as Moses Hess) that freedom and re-establish itself in the Land of many Jews who believed that the security for the nation could and the Forefathers was one of realistic Messianic Redemption would come would only be achieved in the proportions and that the realization only through a miraculous event Land of the Forefathers, and that of an independent state could be caused by G-d. Within Alkalai’s the redemption would only come achieved. Towards the end of his proposition of a natural process of about through positive action on life, he moved to Israel and died redemption, there was the inclusion the part of the Jewish community. there without seeing any of his of the Rabbinic doctrine, expressed From this moment, Rabbi Alkalai dreams fulfilled.

| 47 Rabbi Dov Lipman

ElevatingTHE DARKNESS here are conflicting Midrash5 teaches that Yosef would good. But when it is brought into the teachings in our tradition “pat his eyes, turn on his heel, fix his context of holiness – in the writing regarding the nature of hair” – focusing on how he looked. of a Torah and for communication Greek culture. The Midrash1 T The brothers saw Yosef’s focus in the Land of Israel, the remarkable teaches that the word “darkness” on the physical and determined beauty of Greece takes the spiritual mentioned at the beginning of to a whole new level. As the that his leadership would lead the 6 Creation and during the Brit nation astray. When they see Yosef Gemara explains, there is beauty to Bein HaBetarim refers to Greece. approaching them before they Yefet, the forefather of Greece, but Equating Greece with darkness conspire to get rid of him, they say, that’s only when it “dwells in the clearly indicates a negative attitude “Behold, the master of the dreams tents of Shem,”i.e. when couched in toward Greece and its culture. (Ba’al HaChalomot) is coming.” a spiritual context. Zion, referring – ִצ ֽ ּי וֹ ן Nevertheless, Rabban Shimon ben The Midrash quotes Rabbi Levi This is why Gamliel2 teaches that a Torah can explaining Ba’al HaChalomot to to Israel and Yerushalayim, is a which ,צ be written in Hebrew or Greek. The mean, “this one will lead them to combination of the letter 3 Talmud teaches that in the Land worship ba’al (idolatry).” Rashi symbolizes the righteous tzadik, Greece. The – ֽ ּי וֹ ן of Israel one should speak either teaches that Shimon and Levi had and the letters Hebrew or Greek. According to the the same plot “against Shechem and merger of the righteous, spiritual 4 Zohar, the words “without blemish” against Yosef,” meaning their acts of person together with the beautiful in the Torah refers to Greece “who violence against both were to save culture of Greece leads to Zion – are close to the path of emunah the nation. the physical land where every act, (belief).” The brothers were right that Yosef’s including walking, planting, and So, which is it? Are we to view interest in the physical world had building, is actually spiritual – Greece as something holy or as the capacity to destroy their faith thus elevating its inhabitants to the darkness? if left unharnessed. Yes, Yosef had highest possible spiritual levels. these physical tendencies and yes, And that’s the message of Rav Matis Weinberg answers this he cared about the physical world. Chanukah. We use a beautiful question based on the story of Yosef But, when the physical is harnessed chanukiah, and light following and his brothers. and used in the context of holiness, the “Mehadrin min HaMehadrin” there can be no higher spiritual Is it possible that the sons of Ya’akov approach – beautifying the mitzvah were so horrific and unspiritual that level. That is what Ya’akov saw in Yosef – the son who could lead with the physical, to celebrate the they sought to either kill Yosef or incredible spiritual heights we can completely rid him from their lives? the people in a world where one cannot be exclusively spiritual but reach when we engage with the The brothers thought they were must balance the physical with the magnificent physical world G-d has doing a spiritual act that would spiritual. created for us to use in the context save the Jewish faith when they sold of spirituality and Avodat Hashem. Yosef. They saw that Ya’akov had Yosef is the only person in the Torah crowned Yosef as the leader of the who we refer to as a tzadik. It’s easy 1 Bereishit Rabbah, Chapters 2 and 44. next generation of their faith. to be righteous when rejecting the physical world and focusing only 2 Megillah 8b. Who was Yosef? on the spiritual. True righteousness 3 Sotah 49b. is one who can be engaged in the The Torah relates that Yosef was 4 Shemot 237a. “handsome of form and handsome physical world that G-d created and 5 Bereishit Rabbah 84. of appearance.” Rashi relates that in which He placed us, and not only “the daughters of Egypt used to balance, but elevate the physical and 6 Megillah 9b. climb the wall to gaze at his beauty.” use it for the spiritual. It wasn’t simply that Yosef was That brings us back to Greece and Rabbi Dov Lipman is a former MK physically attractive. He took care Chanukah. Greek culture alone is and the author of seven books about of his outward appearance. The darkness. It is empty and leads to no Judaism and Israel

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DiaryDiary EntriesEntries fromfrom AshkelonAshkelon by Ariela Schwartz

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2019 we had countless times before. I grab each siren sticks with me. She’s well- our nine-month-old baby, Carmel, practiced, and every time without was interrupted from a restless and my husband pulls Aliza, our fail, she drops whatever she’s doing sleep at 5:30 am when my sleeping four-year-old, out of bed and and runs to the door. How could it husband came into the room. carries her out. Whoever gets to the be that a four-year-old who hasn’t “Ariela, just so you know, there’s I door first unlocks and opens it for yet learned about death understands stuff going on in Azza (Gaza). You the other one, then closes it behind what it means to run for her life? should get dressed.” After hearing a them. deafening boom, my husband, Asher, The booms were constant. The had checked the news to see if there The adults keep cool, smiling sirens continued: 7:04, 7:11, 8:31, had been a gas explosion nearby. at the children gathering on the 9:12, 9:54. “Just letting you know What he heard had actually come stairs, some repeating loudly that I’m going to the bathroom,” is from Azza, 15 kilometers away. everything is fine as they try to another way of saying “You are now drown out the booms from overhead responsible for keeping both of the The Israeli Army had taken out an – some so loud that they shake the kids safe, don’t wait for me in case of Islamic Jihad leader, which meant entire building. Internally, people a siren.” it was only a matter of time before are keeping tabs, counting each rockets would start flying in our explosion… one-two-three, four… My husband and I discussed direction. We live in an old building five... leaving Ashkelon to go to stay with in Ashkelon – no elevator, no safe his parents in Efrat, where there The sense of urgency and fear starts rooms in the apartments. We’re are virtually no sirens, ultimately to lift when someone inevitably separated from our bomb shelter by deciding against it for fear of being cracks a joke about meeting up four floors. With only 30 seconds to caught by a siren while driving with for coffee during the next siren get to safety, when there is a siren the kids in the car. or having a building-wide pajama we follow protocol and leave our contest. apartment, shut the door behind us, The day went on and the rocket-fire continued with us stuck inside our descend one flight, and gather on the The next siren came exactly 30 north side of the building. minutes later, at 6:35. apartment building, glued to the news. No showering, no trips to the We were well prepared for our first The look of sheer terror mixed with park across the street, no makolet siren at 6:05. We followed our plan as surprise on Aliza’s face as she hears (grocers) runs – just waiting for the

50 | next siren as we try to entertain our And every single night, before we go car was stopped – across the street kids with games and coloring books. to sleep, my husband kindly checks and over one building to get to our that our bathrobes are hooked on top kids. Finally, the rocket-fire eased-up of our towels for easy access – just in toward the late afternoon. With the case. We weren’t thinking about our uncertainty of what tomorrow would safety. We were thinking only of our TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2019 bring, we got the kids ready for bed girls. as usual. This evening my husband and I went Across the street, up the stairs to our At 7:00 pm, an announcement was to a barbecue with friends. We hired building, into the building, and up released that schools and work would a 16-year-old babysitter to watch our the three flights, we ran. As people two girls, leaving well after they had be canceled the next day as well. made their way down, as far away both fallen asleep. Clearly, the army was prepared for from the roof as they could possibly another long day of rocket-fire, so About 30 minutes after arriving get, we were moving up. while it was quiet, we made the quick at our friends’ house, our phones decision to leave Ashkelon and head We got to our front door to find our lit up – red alert in Sderot. A few for Efrat. minutes later, my phone pinged with babysitter standing in the hallway, a message from the babysitter: “Hey, holding our baby, with our four-year- Within half an hour we were on the old right next to her. road. With our windows rolled down sorry to bother you! Not to worry so that we would immediately hear a you, but there was just a red alert in I didn’t know who to hug first. Do Sderot. I wanted to know where to go siren, we were prepared to stop the I take the baby into my arms? Do when there is a siren, just in case.” car, jump out, unbuckle our kids, and I scoop up my four-year-old? Do I cover them, our bodies turning into I wrote back to her that it’s a little squeeze this 16-year-old girl, who shields for our little ones. Thankfully bit of a problem – we don’t have a put the safety of my children before that didn’t happen. Each kilometer safe room in our apartment, so when her own? that we drove east brought us more there’s a siren, we pick the girls up relief, and half-way through the and take them out into the stairwell. Once the kids were back in bed, drive, we felt our bodies relax for the I added that if she can’t manage to do Liraz, our babysitter, started to tear first time all day. that, it’s completely understandable, up. She explained that she’s used to but she should try to get them both being taken care of during sirens, not Leaving Ashkelon during a tense into the hallway in our apartment – being responsible for others. She said time is always extremely difficult for away from windows to the outside. that she was proud of herself that she us. We’re bailing – on our building, managed to get out with them on on our community, and on our Life carried on as usual in Ashkelon, time. I was proud of her too. city. We’re unable to participate in we thoroughly enjoy our evening, the volunteering committee that finally leaving half an hour after we I’m usually calm during sirens. I’ve brings necessities to the elderly and had originally planned. experienced them more times than sick when they are unable to leave I can count. This time was different. At 12:00, I messaged the babysitter their homes. Ultimately though, the This time I was away from my to let her know – “We’re on our way! decision is an easy one. The lives and babies. This time we were separated So sorry for the delay.” It would be mental health of our children come by a 30-second run. first. about another four-minute drive home. In between “rounds,” as we call them Ariela Schwartz made aliya in 2010 from here in Ashkelon, life carries on as 12:03. We were driving around the traffic circle that puts us on Baltimore, Maryland, and works as a usual. It’s incredible how quickly the Health and Medical Content Writer our street. I was mid-sentence and whole city bounces right back after a [email protected] suddenly “Shh!!!” My husband said ceasefire – from a ghost city one day and rolled down the window. There to a busy and bustling city the next. it was. The slow and steady rise of On a regular day, every park, a siren filled our ears. We had 30 Al HaNissim... restaurant, store and mall in seconds. Over 600 rockets were Ashkelon is bursting with people. As soon as we were on our street I People who always know where the fired into Israel from Gaza yelled “STOP THE CAR!!” and we nearest bomb shelter is located. Not during the most recent came to a screeching halt. a single heart in Ashkelon doesn’t flare-up of tensions. skip a beat at the sound of a distant My door was already open when m Not one Israeli citizen motorcycle, an ambulance, or any the car stopped. With adrenaline other sound that resembles that of an pumping through our veins we ran – was killed. air-raid siren. not to the closest building where our

| 51 PLACES IN ISRAEL

Dr. Hagi Amitzur

ARBEL where redemption will start

f you ask any Mizrachi member The Mizrachi weekly magazine at Arbel Valley is described as the which settlement was the first the time – HaTor – praised these site of the War of Gog UMagog, a Mizrachi settlement in Israel, settlers on November 23, 1923: climactic battle that will precipitate Ithe answer you will probably the Final Redemption. receive would be Kfar Pines or Kfar “...For about 20 years since the Avraham. However, a careful check Mizrachi was founded we have Driving towards the Arbel Cliffs waited for you and working hands in the Mizrachi archives will reveal you will see a sign proclaiming: like yours… for you will be the a different answer. “The Ancient Synagogue of first pioneers of the first Mizrachi Arbel.” Visiting the ruins you Driving on Route 77 eastwards moshav… be strengthened, do not will notice that the entrance to will lead you to Tiberias. As you hold up or be weak… look around the structure is from the east, descend towards the Kinneret you you… here is Tiberias before you, and the main entrance is built of will see a sign pointing to Arbel. where the Mishna was arranged, one stone (a monolith) forming Turning to Route 7717 will take our Oral Law, and you have arisen a central main entrance and two you to the Arbel Valley. According and arranged you lives in your new smaller ones on both sides. This 3 to Chazal, this is where the Geula moshav according to the words of is just as the prophet described: (redemption) will start. The the Torah… many G-d be with you When the Messiah comes, he will Midrash describes Rabbi Chiya and and strengthen your hands…” enter through the eastern gate [of Jerusalem], and a late Midrash4 Rabbi Shimon ben Chalafta walking They faced many problems – in the Arbel Valley and watching describes the main entrance and with the Arabs, with the Jewish two smaller ones made of one stone. the sunrise – a symbolic sign of the Agency and among themselves, and redemption: The residents of ancient Arbel, eventually, by the end of 1931, they who lived with the symbol and abandoned ship. Some remains of “Rabbi Chiya and Rabbi Shimon idea that the Redemption and the the first houses can still be seen Ben Chalafta were walking in the Messiah will come from here, built today in the moshav –now non- valley of Arbel and saw the light of their synagogue according to the religious – rebuilt in 1936. daybreak. Rabbi Chiya said to Rabbi description in the Midrash. Shimon Ben Chalafta: thus will If we continue west, we will reach Traveling in this area today we be the redemption of Israel- at the Arbel. Arbel was already a Jewish can see hints of the Geula in its beginning, slowly, slowly, and as it settlement during the First Temple blooming orchards, trees and goes it will develop and grow.”1 period. It was destroyed and rebuilt flourishing agriculture, based over and over again. Arbel became on the prophecy of the signs of The Arbel Valley was excellent for a symbol for hope, and the basis redemption: “But you, mountains agriculture and described as a place for the saying of Nitai the Arbelite, of Israel, will produce branches and where you will reap six times the Head of the Sanhedrin in the amount of grains that you put in the fruit for my people Israel, for they 2nd century BCE (the time of the 5 2 will soon come home.” ground. Chashmonaim): “Do not give up when destruction falls upon you.” In this valley today, we have three From Arbel’s history he knew very Jewish settlements (moshavim) 1 Talmud Yerushalmi, Berachot 1:1. well that destruction is not the that bear the same names as 2 Talmud Yerushalmi, Pe’ah 87:3. end, and hope for redemption and their ancient predecessors – Kfar 3 Zechariah 14.4. rebuilding is just around the corner. 4 Midrash Zuta, Shir HaShirim 2, Psikat Chittim, Arbel and Kfar Zeitim. DeRav Kahana 18. 95 years ago, in the month of The symbolism of Arbel is also 5 Ezekiel 36:8. Kislev, a group of 15 young families behind Rabbi Eliezer HaKalir’s Dr. Hagi Amitzur PhD is a lecturer and – representing the Mizrachi words describing the Messiah researcher focusing on the rural Galilee Organization – settled Kfar arriving in the month of Nissan in and it’s correlation with Rabbinic Chittim. One month later another the Arbel Valley. In the 7th century, sources, archaeology and daily life in the 25 families joined them. in “The Book of Zerubavel,” the Mishnaic and Talmudic period

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very seven and a half years, there is a siyum (a “How great it is! A Jew travels by boat and takes a tractate celebration signifying completion) held in honor of Berachot in his arm. He travels for 15 days from Eretz of having learned one daf Yisrael to America, and each E(page) of Gemara every single day towards evening he opens day for those past seven and the Gemara and studies the daf. a half years. Jews all over the When he arrives in America, he world participate in such events. enters a Beit Midrash in New During the siyum, photographs 7.5 Daf Yomi Facts York and finds Jews studying the of Rabbi Meir Shapiro are for a 7.5-Year Cycle very same page that he studied displayed, and speakers usually that day, which allows him to acknowledge that it was he who happily join their study group. proposed the idea of Daf Yomi. He discusses matters with them and they answer his questions, It is certainly true that he World Mizrachi is hosting an English- and the Name of Heaven is publicized the idea and language Siyum HaShas event in glorified and sanctified. Another encouraged Jews worldwide 1Yerushalayim to celebrate the completion Jew leaves the United States and to participate in this learning of the 13th cycle of Daf Yomi. travels to Brazil. He returns schedule, but was the original to the Beit Midrash and finds idea really his? Rabbi Shapiro once said: “If you look at a page of the Talmud you see words people immersed in the very Rabbi Meir Shapiro was born 2of the greatest Jewish minds covering the page that he studied that day. in 5647 (1887) in the city entire spectrum of Jewish life and history. Can there be a greater unity of Schatz in Bucovina (now There were Jews from the land of Babylon, of hearts than this? What’s ). During the course from France (e.g. Rashi) and Germany (the more, until the present time of his life he was the Rabbi of a Ba’alei Tosafot); and in the back of the there are many tractates that number of cities. He was also a Talmud, there was Rabbeinu Asher – “the people do not study, tractates member of the (the Polish Rosh,” from Spain, the Maharsham from that are ‘orphans’ and which Parliament), and the President Poland and the Maharam from Lithuania. only exceptional people concern of Agudas Yisrael. The Talmud is the most universal and themselves with. Now the daf The first Knessia Gedola unifying document in Jewish history will rectify this situation.” (literally: large convention) of because all the great people from every Rabbi Shapiro suggested that the Agudas Yisrael took place in place in the world are all gathered in a Knessia Gedolah should decide Elul 5683 (1923). single place.” that from Rosh Hashanah 5684 Rabbi Shapiro wanted delegates (1923), a daf of Gemara should The first cycle of Daf Yomi commenced be studied daily in the order to commit to study a page on the first day of Rosh Hashanah of Gemara every day, and 3 of the Shas. When he put this 5684 (September 11, 1923), with tens of proposal to the plenum it was he submitted this proposal thousands of Jews in Europe, America at one of the sessions at the enthusiastically received and and Israel learning the first daf of the applauded. convention. However, the first tractate of the members of the committee did Talmud, Berachot. not want to take responsibility for the plenum not accepting this revolutionary proposal. They suggested a compromise in that Rabbi Meir Shapiro should put the proposal forward as his own private idea. But Rabbi  Shapiro was still worried, because he was among the Today Daf youngest delegates, and other delegates were therefore Yomi is studied unlikely to pay attention to him. Therefore, before by tens of the Knessia Gedola opened, he went to speak with the thousands Chafetz Chaim, who suggested an unusual method of of Jews ensuring that the proposal would be accepted, which worldwide Rabbi Shapiro implemented by saying the following:

54 | Photo courtesy of Koren Publishers Jerusalem Despite this historic proposal – and the consequent In a letter he wrote to Rabbi Spivak, Rabbi Shapiro attribution of the idea to Rav Shapiro – it appears that he apologized for not having mentioned the latter’s idea that was not the originator. had appeared two years earlier in “Digleinu”. There are unsubstantiated reports of three people who Rabbi Spivak’s family and relatives wanted to publicize had such an idea, but for various reasons preferred to this but Rabbi Spivak resisted, not wishing to damage the ask Rabbi Shapiro to present the idea as if it were his name of Rabbi Shapiro or of Agudas Yisrael. own. The three were: the Rebbe Yet there is more evidence that of Tchortkover, Rabbi Yisroel The first Siyum HaShas took place even Rabbi Spivak wasn’t the Friedman, the Breslover Chossid, on February 2, 1931, at Yeshivat originator either! Rabbi Ben-Zion Apter, and the 4Chachmei Lublin in Poland, which was also Shotzer Rebbe, Rabbi Shulem established by Rabbi Meir Shapiro, and About 10 years before Rabbi Moshkowitz. where he served as . Spivak made his proposal in “Digleinu,” a similar suggestion However, over two years prior Max Stern & Co. are releasing a was published by Rabbi to Rabbi Shapiro’s speech at the commemorative medallion in honor of Yechezkel Fraser. Rabbi Fraser Knessia Gedolah, a firsthand 5the 13th cycle of Siyum HaShas. On one was born in 5589 (1829) in report of the proposal appeared side, it features an image of Rabbi Meir Virbalis, in the Mariampol in Av 5681 (1921), in the journal Shapiro while on the reverse there is a district of Lithuania, and he “Digleinu” (lit. our flag), in an depiction of the globe overlapped by the later moved to New York. His article written by Rabbi Moshe Talmud. proposal appeared in his book Menachem Spivak of Shinsa, “Porachas HaGefen – Yom near Warsaw. The idea of Daf Yomi shiurim are piped into the Yisrael” and was written in Daf Yomi appeared under the in-flight sound system of all El Al Yiddish. He suggested that all heading Hatza’a Nichbada (an 6flights. Shas groups should unite to honorable suggestion). At the seventh Siyum HaShas event, be one company, and that each He proposed that a Chevras the Council of Torah Sages of Agudath group should teach the same Shas (a Talmud study group) 7Israel of America permanently dedicated daf in the same masechet at the should be established in which the Siyum HaShas to the memory of the same time in its own shul. all the participants would be six million Jews murdered during the But that’s not the end of the charedi traders, craftsmen or day Holocaust. mystery. laborers. They would fix a time between and Ma’ariv In , there is a street There are at least four sources to study a daf of Gemara in the named Ma’alot HaDaf HaYomi – Daf reporting Daf Yomi suggestions order the tractates appear. Every 7.5Yomi Ascent. earlier than the above. They are member of the group would be the Gerer Rebbe, Rabbi Ya’akov obligated to take upon himself to Lorberbaum of Lissa, Rabbi learn every day at the same time. Akiva Eiger and the Jewish community in Moravia. Did Rabbi Shapiro know about Rabbi Spivak’s idea? And The idea appears in the ordinances of the Jewish if so, did he know of it before he proposed the idea to the community in Moravia in 1759, more than 150 years Knessia Gedola? before Rabbi Shapiro’s passionate speech! There is no doubt that Rabbi Shapiro knew of Rabbi So, regardless of who claims credit for the idea of Daf Spivak’s idea before the Knessia Gedola, and that the two Yomi, all would agree that its current success and rabbis spoke about it, at least after the Knessia Gedola. popularity can be traced to Rabbi Meir Shapiro. He was the one that publicized it, and it was due to his charismatic personality and continued efforts that it gradually became a fixture in communities and  countries all over the globe. He even prepared a Daf Rabbi Meir Shapiro is credited Yomi calendar for the entire cycle which is still in use with the success of Daf Yomi today.

Rabbi Dr. Chaim Simons has written a number of books and For details of the World Mizrachi booklets, some of which can be viewed at www.chaimsimons.net Siyum HaShas celebration in Jerusalem on January 2, 2020, The Daf Yomi facts were compiled by the editors of visit www.mizrachi.org/siyum HaMizrachi

| 55 Rabbi Dr. Jerold Isenberg

A LESSON FOR THE AGES

very schoolchild knows that perform both hatava and hadlaka, wick-in-place neirot from the tops of Chanukah celebrates the but at the first Chanukah lighting, the newly formed Menorah, and car- miracle of the pach haSh- that was not the case. ried them outside to the courtyards. emen – the small jug of pure oil, There the warriors, tamei Kohanim ְו ַא ַחר E As we read in Al Hanissim: which lasted for eight days. Yet the and non-Kohanim, holding torches the battle – ָּכְך, ָּב ּאו ָבֶנ ָיך ִלְדִביר ֵּביֶתָך only reference to lights in Al HaNis- and, being careful not to transfer to return the Beit HaMikdash to ְו ִה ְד ִל י ק ּו ֵנ ר וֹ ת – sim, the main tefillah outlining the any tuma, lit the wicks Jewish control was waged by val- The Kohanim then . ְ ּב ַח ְצ ר וֹ ת ָק ְד ׁ ֶש ָך ְו ִה ְד ִל י ק ּו ֵנ ר וֹ ת history of the chag, is iant warriors, among them Yehuda ּ ָ They kindled lights in carried the lit neirot back into the“ ְב ַח ְצ ר וֹ ת ָק ְד ׁ ֶש ך HaMaccabi and his brothers Your holy courtyards.” What is the heichal and placed them on top of Shimon and Yonatan, themselves significance of this phrase? the Menorah. Kohanim. Even in their state of Rav Ya’akov Chaim Sofer, grandson tuma (impurity), as the Rambam Rav Ariel’s interpretation demon- 4 of the Kaf HaChaim, identifies six indicates, they could enter and strates that the crowning, public act ּופ ּנ ּו 1 possible answers. One of the best secure the Beit HaMikdash and ִ of returning the Beit HaMikdash to ֶאת ֵה ָיכ ֶל ָך known, cited in the name of the – eradicate the appurte- its holy glory was not accomplished ְו ִט ֲהר ּו Chatam Sofer (no relation), is that nances of Avoda Zara. Then just by a few elite Kohanim. As an ֶאת ִמ ְקָּדׁ ֶש ָך lights were lit in the courtyards to – once purified, the indi- exemplary expression of communal expand public recognition of the vidual Kohanim who had scrupu- Hakarat HaTov – appreciation – miracle. While explaining the enig- lously remained in a state of tahara it was shared with those who had matic phrase in Al HaNissim, this began to reinstate the Avodot HaKo- placed their lives on the line for does not address the absence of ref- desh (Temple Services). G-d, people and country. Those who erences to the pach haShemen or the Menorah. In order to reestablish the service of had faced the horrors of war, and the Menorah, the Kohanim found with G-d’s help, achieved victory. Rav Yisrael Ariel, of the Temple seven tahor metal bars which they With the sparkle of triumph in their Institute, provides a most creative inserted into an eighth, creating a eyes, they were able to share in the 2 and novel answer to this question. makeshift Menorah. Oil was next, act of rekindling the light of the Beit 3 Citing the Rambam, he explains yet they could only locate a single HaMikdash – an act that would that there are two daily tasks asso- jug with sufficient oil for only one remain for thousands of years, a ciated with the Menorah in the Beit day. Miraculously, this would last supreme symbol of the strength of HaMikdash. The first – hatava – for the eight days needed to secure G-d, Torah and His love for Klal consists of removing the remaining a new supply of tahor oil. The Yisrael. oil, wicks and ash of the previous Kohanim added wicks and then the day’s lighting and refilling the oil process of hatava was complete. Until this very day. in the ner (referring to a cup that holds oil, not a candle). A fresh wick Then, Rav Ariel explains, comes is then placed into the ner. This task the extraordinary lighting. The 1 Chukei Retzoncha, 3:2. is mandated to be performed by a Jewish army, which included many 2 The Mikdash , Chapter 29. Kohen who is in a state of tahara Kohanim, had been fighting the 3 Hilchot Biat HaMikdash, 9:5,7,8. (purity). The second task is hadlaka raging battles and were decidedly 4 Hilchot Beit HaBechira, 7:23. – lighting the ner. In theory, this not in a state of tahara. Yet, uti- task can be performed by a Kohen lizing the seldom-used leniency Rabbi Dr. Jerold Isenberg is Chancellor who is not in a state of tahara, or associated with the actual hadlaka, Emeritus of Hebrew Theological College even by a zar (a Jewish non-Kohen). the Kohanim inside the heichal and Executive Director of Mizrachi – Usually, Kohanim tehorim would (sanctuary) removed the oil-filled, Religious Zionists of Chicago

56 | בס"ד Siyum A LESSON FOR THE AGES HaShas THE CENTRAL RELIGIOUS ZIONIST SIYUM HASHAS CELEBRATION

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Rabbi Jesse Horn

the message in the Al HaNissim Candles Located literally opposite Har HaBayit, he language and structure of nation thriving. The Purim miracle Yeshivat HaKotel was founded in the the text in the Al HaNissim enabled the Jewish people to avoid aftermath of the Six-Day War, in order to prayers recited on Chanukah annihilation and destruction. At bring high-level Torah learning back to the and Purim are strikingly similar. the end of the Purim story, they newly-liberated of Yerushalayim. T It is clear they are both written return to their original and neutral Learning in this special place helps with one voice: The texts have an status. Purim takes place outside of students connect deeply with G-d as well as identical opening, Al haNissim veAl Israel, where the goal is survival – to our people's history and future. haPorkan “Because of the miracles exactly what the miracle ensured. Today, Yeshivat HaKotel's program includes and the redemption.” They both Chanukah, by contrast, takes hundreds of talmidim – Israelis in the continue with a similar phrase, “In place in Israel, the place where Hesder program who combine Talmud Torah the days of” and then list the central the Jewish future is destined to be with IDF service alongside a robust program characters in each prayer’s respective built. It is therefore not surprising for Overseas Students. holiday; Mordechai and Esther that the Chanukah story ends for Purim and Matityahu and the with a significantly greater climax; Overseas students live and learn alongside Chashmonaim for Chanukah. namely the rededication of the Israelis and benefit from English shiurim Beit HaMikdash and the powerful as well as guidance, trips and special Subsequently, each prayer describes opportunity that brings. programs that make the year in Israel the potential threat, beginning with especially meaningful. the phrase “When they (the villains) Al HaNissim on Chanukah is designed to capture the potential HaKotel’s student body consists of stood up.” After describing the the Jewish people have specifically dedicated Yeshiva High School graduates threats, the salvations are described, when there is a Beit HaMikdash. In who focus on Torah study and personal each beginning with the identical spiritual growth. Intensive Gemara learning phrase, VeAta BeRachamecha light of this understanding, we can is complemented by a broad curriculum of HaRabim, “And you in Your great now also appreciate the additional shiurim in Tanach, Machshava, Mussar, and mercy.” element found in the Chanukah Halacha. prayer. It is designed to illustrate the However, there are also clear significance and great importance Most importantly, students from HaKotel differences. The prayer on Chanukah of rededicating the Beit HaMikdash benefit At the personal touch of dedicated has an extra paragraph demarcated and the opportunity to praise and staff, who get to know each talmid with the same phrase Shem Gadol, share G-d’s great name with the personally and help each forge his unique “great name,” in the beginning and world – LeShimcha HaGadol. path in Avodat Hashem. LeShimcha HaGadol, “Your great name,” at the end, describing how Based upon this, one may further the Jews retook and entered the Beit explain why the miracle of HaMikdash, cleaned and purified it Chanukah is celebrated by placing and established Chanukah. candles by a window projecting outwards, perhaps recalling Jewish Why does the Chanukah text responsibility to be an Or LaGoyim, Yeshivat HaKotel contain this additional section? a light upon the nations and share +972-2-628-8175 G-d’s great name with the world. [email protected] Additionally, when explaining www.hakotel.org.il/English/about the salvation, the Chanukah text is significantly more descriptive, offering more detail in the military victory than the Purim text does. Why? Rabbi Jesse Horn is a Senior Ram (Rosh Metivta) at Yeshivat HaKotel and Purim is a story of Jewish survival the Director of the Mizrachi/Yeshivat while Chanukah is one about a HaKotel Mechanchim program

58 | MIDRASHOT IN ISRAEL

Rabbi Jesse Horn Rabbanit Sally Mayer

the message in the Candles hanukah commemorates an Kohen Gadol during the Second Join the Conversation: In the Beit Midrash incredible miracle – when a Temple, this daily mini-miracle of students delve deeply into the Torah, small flask of oil sufficient the Menorah, returned.4 However, developing skills and love for learning to light the Menorah for one night after his death, it would occur only on their own. Approachable teachers C who respect their students model a life lasted for eight nights. sporadically. dedicated to Torah. Yet there is no holiday to commem- The Chashmonaim fought valiantly Inspiration and Commitment: Spiritual orate the stopping of the Jordan to rededicate the Second Temple, but growth goes hand in hand with Torah River when the Jews crossed into it was a diminished Temple, missing learning. In our Individual Spiritual Eretz Canaan, no festival for when its signature miracles that showed G-d’s favor. Imagine the joy and cel- Program (ISP) each student is paired with a the fire came down from Heaven for staff mentor for regular meetings to develop ebration amongst the Jewish people Eliyahu, no celebration of when the an individualized, goal-oriented plan. sun stopped for Yehoshua during when G-d not only returned a daily his battle in Givon, and the list goes miracle that happened in the First The Best of Both Worlds: Why choose on. Why does the miracle of the oil, Temple but multiplied it by eight! between being totally immersed in an supernatural as it was, warrant an At a time when even the daily service Israeli program and being in a completely eight-day holiday? in the Temple seemed diminished overseas environment? Our students and lackluster, when the fighters integrate with Israelis in the dorm, classes Furthermore, there were miracles all and Beit Midrash while receiving the care of might have wondered if their efforts the time in the First Beit Hamikdash, an overseas program. as described in the Talmud: There were even fruitful, G-d sent them was never a fly in the slaughtering a message of encouragement in the Our Family: Located in Jerusalem’s Arnona area, the smoke from the altar went form of a miracle resonating with neighborhood, our beautiful facility, is open straight up to the sky despite any the symbolism of His attention and to our students 24/7 – including Shabbat winds that blew, and even when the caring. and chag, often spent with the Midreshet Darkaynu program for students with special courtyard was packed with worship- However, without the return of needs. pers, there was plenty of room to the other miracles, wasn’t this still 1 bow down at the right moment. a shell of the glorious First Beit Matmidot Scholars Program: Our new So why are we celebrating this mira- HaMikdash? program brings together an incredible cle of all miracles? By establishing Chanukah, Chazal cohort to prepare a new generation of women scholars, writers and leaders. The Talmud 2 teaches that there taught us to celebrate even when were five ways in which the Second we are not back to the perfect place Temple was inferior to the First: for which we hope and dream. So, The Aron Kodesh was missing, there too, today we joyously celebrate the was no heavenly fire, no Shechina, miracle of the State of Israel and our return to Yerushalayim, even as no Ruach HaKodesh, and no Urim VeTumim. we continue to pray daily for G-d to Maria and Joel Finkle Overseas Program grant us the full Redemption. [email protected] How could we tell that the Shechina, www.midreshet-lindenbaum.org.il G-d’s Holy Presence, was missing? #livelearnlindenbaum

3 The Talmud tells us that the west- 1 Yoma 21a. ern lamp of the Menorah, which 2 Yoma 21b. had the same measurement of oil 3 Shabbat. as all the rest but lasted longer than 4 Yoma 39a. them all, testified to the presence Rabbanit Sally Mayer is Rosh of the Shechina. For the 40 years at Midreshet Lindenbaum’s Overseas that Shimon HaTzadik served as Program

| 59 Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski The Secret of Raising Good Jewish Children

e are fast approaching in a spiritually-barren community. to my mother, “You have no reason Chanukah, celebrating When we left the confines of our to worry. You have a bracha from the triumph of Torah home, we were in a secular culture. Zeide.” Wover secularism. This is of special Even my father’s heroic Chassidut Even in many frum homes, the significance to me, having had a was not enough to resist the father lights the menorah, sings wide exposure to secularism that, pressure of the community. thank G-d, has not compromised Maoz Tzur, and after just five But there is another crucial factor minutes, goes about his usual my Torah dedication. 1 in our survival. My mother was the activities. The Talmud says that I was born and raised in Milwaukee, eldest daughter of the Kedushas lighting the Chanukah menorah is Wisconsin, which had no , Tzion h”yd, the Rebbe of Bobov. a segula (a Kabbalistic protective no yeshiva, no formal Jewish When she was a child of six, she or benevolent charm or ritual) education. I had no frum friends watched my great-grandfather, to have children that are Torah scholars. But this does not occur or playmates, except for the Rebbe Shlomo Halberstam, the first automatically. It requires intense octogenarians in my father’s shul. Rebbe of Bobov, light the Chanukah tefillah. My oldest brother left for the menorah. The Rebbe lit the yeshiva in New York when I was six, menorah, then sat silently, with his We will soon be observing followed just a year later by the next eyes closed, meditating. At times, Chanukah. The challenge from brother. My two younger brothers tears rolled down his face. the secular community today did not come around until I was is every bit as serious as in the eight. I attended public school, and “Zeide,” my mother asked. “What days of Matityahu. Lighting the what limited friendships I had were are you thinking about?” Zeide menorah should be accompanied with non-Jewish kids. answered, “I’m davening to G-d that by intense prayer for our children you should have good children.” He and grandchildren to be loyal to the When my father was asked how he continued his silent tefillot for half Torah. was able to raise five frum sons in an hour. Milwaukee, he answered, “I never left Hornosteiple,” referring to the After , my 1 Shabbat 3b. Ukranian town in which his father grandmother, the Bobover Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski is a and grandfather were Chassidic , came to America. When psychiatrist and rabbi, and founder of rebbes. True, our home was an oasis the conversation turned to our the Gateway Rehabilitation Center in of Torah and Chassidut, but it was attending college, my Bubby said Pennsylvania

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60 | RECOMMENDED READING

The Secret of WHEN SEVENTY ISN’T SEVENTY: Raising Good NUMBERS IN THE TORAH Jewish Children Rabbi Dr. Joshua Berman, Bar-Ilan University t times, the Torah’s use of in Genesis 46 – as opposed to the descendants of Bilhah are seven numbers seems puzzling summary tally figures for each (46:25). Those of Rachel total 14 to our modern sensitivi- of the four matriarchs – a clear (46:22). Those of Leah (30; 46:15) Aties, and perhaps nowhere more pattern emerges: the number of and of Zilpah (16; 46:18) total 49. than when the Torah states that 70 descendants of Rachel (14; Gen. The message that emerges is that descendants of Jacob went down 46:20–21) is double the number the “whole” of Israel represented to Egypt and lists the names of of descendants of her handmaid, a “significant” contingent – it each (Gen. 46:8–27). The number Bilhah (seven; 46:23–24). Similarly, “counts” 70 individuals. Moreover, of names listed and the final tally it is significant because its cross-validate each other giving the subdivisions are multiples of seven impression that this is a full and as well. Factually, there were far realistic census. However, a closer more than 70 members of Jacob’s look at the name list and the sum- family who descended to Egypt, as mary figures it offers for each of the claimed by the Netziv. But the point matriarchs reveals puzzling data. of the list in the first place was never Only two of the named individuals to offer a roll call. We call the list are women. It is inconceivable that a census, but that label represents the ratio of Jacob’s male to female little more than our construction descendants was 34:1. Had the of what we think it is telling us. census listed male members only, It is, in fact, an encoded way of one might have concluded that the demonstrating G-d’s blessing to Torah was counting men alone. But Jacob and his family as they descend by listing two women, it implies to Egypt. This is one of the many that women are also considered in ways seemingly ‘embarrassing’ this count. Moreover, the Torah discrepancies in the Torah are emphasizes that Jacob went down to the number of Leah’s descendants understood in a new light when we Egypt with all his daughters-in-law (32; 46:9–14) is likewise double read the Torah not according to our (Gen. 46:5, 15) and all his daughters of that of her handmaid, Zilpah’s own conventions, but in accordance and granddaughters (Gen. 46:7). (16; 46:16–17). However, this is with the writing conventions of For all these reasons Rabbi Naf- only achieved by applying different tali Zvi Yehuda Berlin, the Netziv, ‘rules’ to the question of who is ancient times.. concludes that, in fact, many more counted as a descendant of each of Adapted from Rabbi Dr. Berman’s forthcoming than 70 persons descended to Egypt the wives. Rachel’s descendants, book, Ani Maamin: Biblical Criticism, for example, include grandsons – Historical Truth and the Thirteen Principles of (HaEmek Davar, Gen. 46:7). Faith, published by Maggid Books, a division of Menashe and Ephraim – whereas Koren Publishers Jerusalem. Throughout the writings of the no other grandsons are included in ancient Near East, numbers this census, even though the Torah seemingly used in a statistical sense states that grandchildren were are used, in fact, in creative ways among those who descended to SPECIAL FOR MIZRACHI READERS: to impart ideas, and that is the Egypt with Jacob (Gen. 46:7). case here. Numbers in Genesis 46 Get 20% off any Maggid title from our are designed to reflect status, and However, when we examine not the website: www.korenpub.com when this is seen most clearly through actual number of names listed for you use the code MIZRACHI. another problem in this census: Jacob’s descendants, but rather the Free shipping on orders over the ‘discrepancy’ concerning the summary tally totals, a different $72 in the US & Canada or descendants of Leah; they are said axis of significance emerges. 300 NIS in Israel. Valid until to tally 33 (Gen. 46:15), while the The numbers form multiples of December 31, 2019 in US, Torah lists only 32 names. When seven. There is a grand total of Canada & Israel. we look at the actual names listed 70 descendants (Gen. 46:27). The WHAT’S IN A WORD

David Curwin

EDUCATION AND DEDICATION

(palate) ֵח ְך ,he etymology of the word He writes that in the places where Denominated from chekh is used in regards to the and originally meaning ‘to rub the חנך is more the verb ֲח ֻנ ָּכה Chanukah complicated than one might Mishkan or Beit HaMikdash (Num- palate of a child with chewed dates.’ Tthink. bers 7:10, Chronicles II 7:5-9), a good Compare Arabic hanak (palate), translation would be “initiation” or hence hannaka (he rubbed the First of all, the popular understand- “starting upon their course of ben- palate of a child), hanaka (he taught, ing that the name of the holiday eficial service.” If “dedication” was instructed). comes from a portmanteau of the intended, the verb should have been -They (the Mac- So according to Klein, the develop“ – ָח ּו נכ"ה phrase .משח or קדש cabees) rested on the 25th (of the ment is palate → rubbing the palate → instruction. It is unclear how we חנך month of Kislev)” is a cute mne- According to Reif, the reading of monic, but has nothing to do with as “to train, instruct” comes from a get from there to “dedicate” (as Klein has it) or “initiate.” As Reif wrote, the ֲחנ ְֹך – the origin of the holiday. The name mistranslation of Proverbs 22:6 -case for development from “initia . ַל ַּנ ַער ַעל ִּפי ַדְר ּכוֹ comes from the chanukah of the Temple. tion” to “education” is stronger than While the JPS has “Train a lad in that from “dedication” to “educa- Why can’t I just translate chanukah the way he ought to go,” Reif pre- tion.” But considering the linguistic into English? Even just agreeing on fers “Start a boy on the right road.” evidence, perhaps the order needs to a translation isn’t simple. The com- (Another common misunderstand- be reversed – the word first meant -education, and only later meant initi ַעל ִּפ ַדְרּכיוֹ plication arises from the multiple ing of this verse is that .(means “according to his way.” But ation (of the child חנך While .חנך meanings of the root in modern Hebrew can mean “to based on the context of the verse, One additional point of interest is ּ ְ I always which mentions his old age in the , ִחנ ּוך ,educate,” as in chinuch which – ָח ִנ ְיך that the word chanich for chanukah meant second half, the plain meaning of the חנך thought that today means “pupil, apprentice, “dedication.” However, Prof. Stefan phrase here means “at the beginning Reif shows how the basic meaning of member of a youth group” – might .at all חנך of his path.”) not be related to the root ”.is “to begin, to initiate חנך the root It appears only once in the Bible, in Dedicate, on the other hand, means A number of Rishonim support Reif’s .ַוָּיֶרק ֶאת ֲח ִנ ָיכיו :Genesis 14:14 approach. Rashi on Genesis 14:14 קדש – ”to consecrate to sacred uses“ חנך in Hebrew. writes that “the word signifies The JPS translation is “he mustered introducing a person or a thing, for his retainers” and Prof. Menachem One of Reif’s proofs is Deuteronomy the first time, to some particular Kaddari claims that it comes from ִמי ָהִאישׁ ֲאשֶׁ ר ָּבָנה :where it says ,20:5 occupation in which it is intended an Egyptian word ha-na ku-u-ka . ַב ִית ָח ָדשׁ ְוֹלא ֲח ָנ כוֹ he should remain.” Radak in Sefer meaning “armed retainers.” But cer- While the JPS translates it as “Is HaShorashim follows the same tainly today, chanich has become there anyone who has built a new approach. fully understood as associated with education. house but has not dedicated it?” Reif Reif concludes by writing: the later ְ chi- To conclude, I think that the best ִח ּנ ּוך would translate it as “initiated it” or development of the noun “started to live in it.” Reif quotes an nuch in the sense of “education” also translation for Chanukah would earlier article as saying it does not demonstrates that the rendering be “inauguration.” It maintains the mean “removing from the realm of “dedication” is inimical to the essen- sense of initiation, and also denotes the profane... to that of the sacred, tial meaning of the stem. consecration, as appropriate to the but the putting to common use.” He Temple. also points out that no dedication of This all seems very convincing. a private house is found in the Bible However, Reif does not discuss an or “subsequent Jewish custom” and important aspect of the etymology of David Curwin is a writer living in Efrat, Ernest Klein writes in his dictio- and the author of the Balashon blog .חנך that “house dedication” is a modern balashon.com • [email protected] :חנך Jewish custom. nary entry for

62 |

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