30,000 COPIES PRINTED IN

VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 6

כסלו תשפ"א TORAT ERETZ YISRAEL • PUBLISHED IN • DISTRIBUTED AROUND THE WORLD DECEMBER 2020

ISRAEL EDITION

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

Sivan Rahav Meir and Yedidya Meir Commemorating the Shloshim of with eight thoughts for eight days lord PAGE 14 Jonathan Rabbi reveals the best way sacksA Light Unto the Nations to spread ’s relevance PAGE 19 Shining the Light on

Rabbanit Rachelle Fraenkel tells the inspiring story of chanukah Goren during the War the Holiday of Education, Miracles of Independence and the Indomitable Jewish Spirit PAGE 23

Rabbanit Yemima Mizrachi highlights the power of loneliness

PAGE 22

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis on the blessing of failure

PAGE 24

Rabbanit Shani Taragin with an overview of Chanukah’s pivotal role in the year

PAGE 9

לעילוי נשמת הרב יעקב צבי בן דוד אריה זצ”ל dedicated by the lay and professional leadership and staff of world mizrachi in memory of our teacher זצ"ל rabbi lord jonathan sacks his spiritual and moral leadership will remain a guiding force for us and he is mourned and missed www.mizrachi.org [email protected] +972 (0)2 620 9000 CHAIRMAN INSIDE Mr. Harvey Blitz

EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN TORAT MIZRACHI CHANUKAH READING Rabbi Doron Perez Avraham, Chanukahand Rabbi Sacks Chanukah and Chinuch EDUCATIONAL DIRECTORS 3 Rabbi Doron Perez 38 Rabbi Efrem Goldberg Rabbi Reuven Taragin Growing in the Darkness Beware the Dangers of Jealousy Rabbanit Shani Taragin 6 Rabbi Ari Rockoff 42 Rabbi Zev Leff SPECIAL INTERVIEW The Children’s Holiday 7 Kurt Rothschild at 100 43 Rabbi Berel Wein Doing What We Can Can We Learn From the Greeks? 8 Rabbi Reuven Taragin 44 Rabbi Dov Lipman The End of The Beginning… Simcha and the Chanukah Candles and the Beginning of the End Rabbi Azarya Berzon Rabbanit Shani9 Taragin 46 Light in the Darkness We are All Kohanim on Chanukah PUBLISHED BY THE MIZRACHI WORLD MOVEMENT 47 Rabbi Hanoch Teller 10 Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon The War or the Oil? EDITORIAL TEAM Appreciate the Miracles 48 Rabbi Ari Z. Zivotofsky Daniel ‏Verbov 11 Rabbanit Sharon Rimon The Messages of the Name of Chanukah Esther Shafier The Singular Light of Chanukah 49 Dr. Deena Zimmerman 12 Rabbi Danny Mirvis CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jonny Lipczer Eight Thoughts for Eight Days 14 Sivan Rahav Meir andYedidya Meir THE PEOPLE AND THE LAND GRAPHIC DESIGN Hadas Peretz RAV KOOK'S TEACHINGS 50 The , the Greeks and Rabbi Sacks Rabbi Chanan Morrison PRODUCTION AND ADVERTISING MANAGER GLOBAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS

Meyer Sterman The Three Foundational Mitzvot ISRAEL INSIGHT [email protected] Rabbi zt”l 52 Trump’s Mideast Innovations Should Stick 18 David M. Weinberg The Real Choice Today HaMizrachi seeks to spread Torat Eretz Yisrael throughout Rabbi David Stav WHAT’S IN A WORD the world. HaMizrachi also contains articles, opinion pieces 19 53 Illuminating Words David Curwin and advertisements that represent the diversity of views and Lighting the Candles at Home Rabbi Hershel Schachter interests in our communities. These do not necessarily reflect 20 RELIGIOUS ZIONIST LEADERS any official position of Mizrachi or its branches. Rabbi Yehuda Bibas Miracles and the Power of Loneliness 56 Rabbanit Yemima Mizrachi If you don't want to keep HaMizrachi, you can double- 22 NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS wrap it before disposal, or place it directly into sheimos. 57 To Ignite the Candle Within Chanukah 1948 Gael Grunewald 23 Rabbanit Rachelle Fraenkel When is Failure a Blessing from G-d? 24 Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis GENERAL INTEREST

SOCIAL COMMENTARY 58 What Would Washington Think Today? HaMizrachi REMEMBERING RABBI SACKS Rabbi Chaim Navon Dedication Zionist Congress, Mizrachi PARENTING & RELATIONSHIPS and the Influence of Rabbi Sacks 60 Preparing Our Children for Marriage Opportunities 26Rabbi Doron Perez Dr. David S. Ribner

The Many Faces The Greatest Loss If you would like to dedicate an 28 of Rabbi Sacks 62 Rabbi Lighting the Chanukah Candles issue of HaMizrachi in memory of HaMizrachi Family Page with Rabbi Sacks a loved one or in celebration of a 31 63 simcha, please send an email to Eight Lessons in 36 Rabbi Sacks’ Leadership [email protected] Rabbi Benji Levy Cover photo courtesy of The Office of Rabbi Sacks Cover photo courtesy of The Office

2 | TORAT MIZRACHI

Rabbi Doron Perez

Avraham, Chanukah and Rabbi Sacks ON RELIGION, NATIONHOOD AND UNIVERSALISM

hat did Avraham Avinu repeatedly promised that G-d will abhorrent, he loved all of humanity a great and impassioned G-d not to destroy , ּג וֹ י ָ ּג ד וֹ ל stand for? bless him with a What were the core prin- people, with a particular task, in this His creatures. Wciples he instituted that formed the very Land. Nowhere is this national- authentic blueprint for and ist impulse clearer than in his desire The more Avraham searched for G-d, the spiritual mission of the Jewish to save his errant nephew Lot. As the more he found his fellow man. people? soon as he hears Lot has been taken captive, Avraham springs into action, So Avraham Avinu is a blend of all Let us examine this question from takes up arms and is prepared to fight three – the staunch advocate of faith, three different vantage points: against regional powers to do what- the proud nationalist, and the ardent ever it takes to rescue him. humanist devoted to all people cre-

1. Spiritual. Avraham is the consum- ated in the image of G-d. mate ambassador of faith and man of Although not commanded by G-d, G-d. We are first introduced to him as he is prepared to sacrifice everything In his own groundbreaking way, he G-d commands him to leave his coun- – his life and the lives of his follow- was able to blend the religious, the try, his land of birth and his father’s ers – to save one lost soul. All for one national and the universal into one house, and we are privy to many more [member of the tribe] and one for all. complete whole. The founder of the Divine commands and conversations Jewish faith laid the foundations that 3. Universal. Avraham is also the throughout his life. make Judaism so wholesome, mean- ַה ְכ ָנ ַסת humanist par excellence. His ingful and life-enhancing. .his hospitality, is unmatched ,אוֹ ְר ִחים We see a man deeply connected to G-d, commanded by G-d and abso- In great pain after his circumcision, Unsurprisingly, it is precisely these lutely obedient to Him. Nowhere is he runs to welcome pagan guests – three elements at the core of Jewish this obedience clearer than in the later to be revealed as angels – into being that Rav Kook writes about perplexing command to sacrifice his his home and treats them like noble- when describing the ideological bat- beloved son Yitzchak, an impossi- men. Although these people were the tles raging in the early 1900s in pre- ble task in itself, yet made even more ideological antithesis of everything 2 challenging by G-d’s earlier promise he stood for – he was teaching mono- State Palestine. He described the that Yitzchak would be the forebear theism and belief in a purposeful and three ideological camps in the Jewish of a great nation. Nevertheless, Avra- personal G-d and they were espousing world – the religious, the nationalist ham does not deviate in his adher- paganism and idol worship and the and the universalist (perhaps religious ence to what he perceives as the will belief in many impersonal gods – he parties, right-wing parties and left- of Heaven. A man of incompara- had no hesitation in welcoming them wing parties in today’s parlance). ble religious fervor, dedication and into his home. commitment. Rav Kook explains how each one He washed the dust of idolatry off represents part of the whole truth 2. National. Avraham is also the their feet1 and found a way to bridge of what Judaism is about and that a epitome of nationalism. His entire the boundaries and sit together. Fur- complete understanding of the Jewish life revolves around journeying to thermore, when G-d informed him of mission must incorporate all three the specific land G-d showed him, His plan to destroy Sodom, Avraham weaved into one seamless whole. the Land of Canaan, settling in dif- did everything in his power to pre- ferent parts of that Land and being vent it. Although their actions were Continued on page 4

| 3 TORAT MIZRACHI

Continued from page 3

Of course, Jewish life is rooted in our belief in G-d and His Torah. Without belief in G-d and acceptance of the moral and spiritual laws revealed at Sinai, we miss the mark of Jewish des- tiny. It defines who we are and what G-d wants from us. At the same time, the G-dliness revealed to Avraham very clearly and profoundly includes both a national and a universal ethos.

The principle of Am Yisrael, our col- lective responsibility and destiny, is critical to the Jewish story.

Yes, G-d revealed himself to one man, tend to agree with this basic premise individual Jew), and a defender of who became the founder of a singular but laud the additional component of Israel while conveying Torah values in people given a particular land and a the political and military leadership the broadest, most inspiring, univer- role adopted by the Hasmoneans and sal and engaging way? distinct set of laws to fulfill their pur- 3 pose in this world. the restoration of Jewish sovereignty. Rabbi Sacks had the Avraham-like Yes, Jewish particularism and people- People from the nationalist camp ability to uplift the hearts and minds hood is at the heart of Judaism. One view the Hasmoneans as the mili- of all people, regardless of their reli- cannot separate Judaism from the tary-oriented Maccabees who stood gious beliefs and political affiliations. Jewish people. up to defend their people and fight for He was a giant of a man encapsulat- independence, while liberals read the ing – as only he could – the three- Yet at the same time, G-d demanded story as a fight for religious tolerance. pronged essence of Judaism – spiri- that Avraham be a source of bless- The oppressive Hellenist regime was tual, national and universal. ing to all people. Jews are part of the discriminating against the Jews and family of nations because G-d wants so they had the right to fight for their We are therefore humbled and hon- us to be a source of spiritual blessing freedom. ored to dedicate our HaMizrachi Cha- and moral light to all. To love and nukah Edition to the life, teachings Whose reading of history is correct? respect all those created in the image and legacy of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Undoubtedly, all have an element of G-d and be a proactive force in a Sacks zt”l, who made a beautiful and of truth. All capture a part of what universal mission for the greater good vibrant Judaism so accessible and the Chanukah legacy is and how the of all of humanity. inspiring for us all. flames of the rekindled Menorah Hence there is no comprehensive represent the contrasting yet com- definition of Judaism without inte- plementary torches of our collective 1 See Rashi, Bereishit 18:4. grating all three elements into one Jewish mission. 2 See Orot HaTechiya, 18. harmonious whole. Is there anyone in our generation who 3 Indeed, the Rambam (Laws of Chanukah, 1:1) mentions both these achievements of the Has- Interestingly, these same three prisms has embodied these three Abrahamic moneans. Salvation from the Greek regime at shape the way exponents of different values more than Rabbi Lord Jona- the time reversed the oppressive decree against ideologies tend to relate to the story than Sacks zt”l? Torah observance and restored Jewish sover- of Chanukah. eignty for over 200 years until the destruction Is there anyone else who has inte- of the Second Temple. Religious people tend to interpret grated so holistically a deep and Chanukah exclusively as a fight for the unswerving commitment to Jewish primacy of Torah and Mesorah, our faith and Torah while simultane- Jewish beliefs and traditions. People ously being a great lover of the Jewish Rabbi Doron Perez is Executive Chairman from a national-religious background people (and a great believer in every of the Mizrachi World Movement.

Society does not belong to any of us, but to all of us. It is the home we build together. 4 | RABBI SACKS TORAT MIZRACHI

“As the years pass and

my knowledge of each

vineyard deepens, tending

to the vines turns more

personal and intimate.

I am certain that this

roots one of our secrets

of success.”

Golan Flam, Winemaker

Product of Israel

flam grapes sizes.indd 1 8/24/15 5:23 PM TORAT MIZRACHI

Rabbi Ari Rockoff Growing in the Darkness or many of us, Chanukah com- times. Rav Assaf Bednarsh, RIETS extinguished, they remained burning pletes the cycle of “corona-cha- Rosh at YU’s Gruss , bright, glowing and growing. gim.” From when Purim started ties this idea to the central miracle of This past year has brought much Fto be overshadowed by the pandemic the oil, the pach haShemen that con- darkness to our people and to the back in March, we will have now expe- tinued to burn for eight days. The world. We have experienced collective rienced all of the chagim during the era Hellenizers and Greeks believed that mourning and fear in a way we have of coronavirus. And perhaps Chanukah their new culture was destined to take not for many years. Yet Chanukah during these times is the most poignant over the world. The Jews had man- reminds us that even when we might of them all. aged to light the scene of history for not expect it, the light of the Torah just one night, but their flame would The story of Chanukah is one of the and the Jewish people continues to then be extinguished and replaced by most positive and uplifting in our his- burn. the lights of Greek culture. tory. We were able to defeat the great Since March, Israel has had to close military forces of the Seleucid Greeks, However, the light of Torah and the its borders to foreign citizens. Yet and maintain our identity and faith in Jewish people were destined to glow over this summer, it ensured that over the face of their cultural onslaught, much longer than the Greeks thought 10,000 yeshiva and seminary students against all odds. An unlikely victory they would. Though at the time it may from Chutz LaAretz could enter Eretz that brought sparks of light to dark have seemed that our lights would be Yisrael to learn Torah in our home- land. On a political level, in 2020, Israel has concluded more peace and normalization agreements with its Arab neighbors than in all the years since 1948.

We in the United States may have been unable to visit Israel in person in 2020, but the recent World Zionist Congress showed that Jews around the world remain as close as ever to our homeland, and that our Religious Zionist voice will continue to make a real impact on the future of the State of Israel. It may have been a dark year, but within it, the light of Jewish people and our Torah has continued to burn, Baruch Hashem.

Like the candles that increase in number every night of Chanu- kah, may we continue to be “mosif veholech,” to glow and to grow, and light up the darkness wherever it may lie.

Rabbi Ari Rockoff is Executive Vice-President of Religious Zionists of

Photo courtesy of Rabbi Hillel van Leeuwen Photo courtesy of Rabbi America–Mizrachi.

Chanukah is about the freedom to be true to what we believe without denying the freedom of those who believe otherwise. It’s about lighting our candle, 6 | while not being threatened by or threatening anyone else’s candle. RABBI SACKS TORAT MIZRACHI

Rabbi Ari Rockoff

r. Kurt Rothschild, President You live such a busy life. How do Do you have any other words of of World Mizrachi, rises each you do it all at your age? wisdom to share with our readers? day at 6 am, attends morning Mservices, studies Daf Yomi and, until Ribono Shel Olam gives me strength. We live in an ongoing miracle, a mir- It is a tremendous privilege to reach COVID-19, headed to his office at acle the generations before us could such an extreme age. The fact I am not even imagine. I walk the streets World Mizrachi headquarters in the still around obliges me to give my of Jerusalem today and see men, center of Jerusalem. He would work life meaning. A person who lives his women and children simply walking until 4:30 pm, when he returned home life with meaning, even if G-d forbid the streets. These people do not know to his wife Edith. he dies at a young age, leaves the and do not understand what antisem- world with a sense of fullness and What is most extraordinary about itism is. We decide who can enter the appreciation. this, is that Mr. Rothschild is about to country, who is worthy, who meets celebrate his 100th birthday! the criteria. Criteria can be debated, but the very fact the government and We wanted to learn more about power are in the hands of Jews this astonishing man and are is a miracle. honored to share with you a Kurt When you a second chance little of what we discovered: at life, you realize how import- ant it is, so you try and endow it You and your wife made Rothschild with meaning. You never know in your 90s. Why? — AT — what will happen. We all get opportunities, every day, with- It’s a mixture of wanting to out even realizing it. be here, identifying with our people, our country, and ending As long as G-d allows it, I will our lives, at some point, here in continue to act. Donating and Israel. I was born in Germany doing are key to longevity. almost 100 years ago and then We all have the ability to give forced out, first to England, something: money, time or talent. My main motivation to then Canada, and after 75 years A T I N do and give was the memory in Canada, my wife and I are C E L E B R G T H E of the Holocaust. G-d ‘got the now here. We have chil- EDIBLE CENTENAR INCR IAN ball rolling’ so that I had dren here, grandchildren, the opportunity to live in great-grandchildren, and Canada during the war. This is every single day we are so grate- the kind of debt you must repay. ful we made this choice. I came to the conclusion that there is no better way to repay this debt than Israel is the center of the world. A to ensure the continuity of the Jewish small country, embattled from all This ideal grows stronger as you live people – whether in Israel or out- sides and in world news almost every longer. When you reach the ninth side – through education and chesed day. To walk the streets of Jerusalem decade – or in my case the 10th – the towards those who need it. is a special privilege, and really unbe- ideal intensifies through the experi- lievable how we – threatened by Iran, ence and wisdom one has acquired. Syria, the other Arab countries, the Although it is not easy to climb the Join us in wishing – managed to build up a stairs to the office every morning, I Mr. Kurt Rothschild country in such a remarkable, incred- am lucky that I continue to try and ible way. succeed. a very happy birthday!

| 7 TORAT MIZRACHI MIZRACHI EDUCATORS

Rabbi Reuven Taragin Rabbanit Shani Taragin Chanukah Doing What We Can lobal events often make us was to do what they could to pro- Making Sure We Do All We Can feel like we and our efforts are tect their values and fight for Jewish The Midrash6 says that had Reuven insignificant. Tens of millions independence. known the Torah would record his of people have been sick and most of G actions, he would have immediately the world has been affected by Corona. Helping One Starfish placed Yosef on his shoulders and What difference does our cautiousness There was an old man who used taken him all the way back to Ya’akov. make within the bigger picture? to go to the ocean to do his writ- Though effort that yields only partial With 150 million people voting in a ing. He had a habit of walking on success is also significant, we are presidential election, how important the beach every morning before responsible to apply ourselves fully, is our one vote? In most of the states he began his to invest all that of the US, the outcome of the election work. Early we are truly able was a foregone conclusion before the one morning, to. voting even began. after a big storm, Though we may not he was walking along determine the pandemic’s Reuven Saving Yosef the shore and found the course or who wins an elec- vast beach littered with The Torah speaks of this in its descrip- tion, we should make sure starfish as far as the eye tion of Reuven’s actions on behalf of his to value and maximize could see. brother Yosef. Though Reuven did not our efforts. In the merit of completely save Yosef and was devas- Off in the distance, the our doing so, may Hashem tated when he returned to the pit to find old man noticed a small assist us in the same way that ּב ּימים 1 ַ ָ ִ – that Yosef had been sold into slavery, boy approaching. As the boy walked, He assisted the Chashmonaim ! ָה ֵהם ַּב ְּז ַמן ַה ֶּזה the Torah describes Reuven’s saving of he paused every so often and the man 2 הצלה Yosef from death as a ָ ָּ ַ (salvation). could see he was occasionally bending Though he did not succeed fully, it is down to pick up an object and throw 1 Bereishit 37:29. important to appreciate what he did it into the sea. The boy came closer accomplish. 2 Ibid 37:21-22. still and the man called out, “Good 3 See Zechor L’Avraham who brings this Mid- morning! May I ask what you are rash. See also Rav Shlomo Kluger’s Kehilat The Chanukah Connection Yaakov, which offers over 20 explanations for doing?” this Midrash. The Midrash3 associates Reuven’s sal- The young boy paused, looked up, 4 See 22b which concludes that the vation with our lighting of Chanukah mitzvah is fulfilled through lighting and and replied, “Throwing starfish nothing further is required. candles at the entrance to our homes. into the ocean. The tide has washed 5 Adapted from ‘The Star Thrower,’ by Loren One fulfills the mitzvah of Chanu- Eiseley. them up onto the beach and they kah candles through merely lighting 6 Bereishit Rabbah 34:8. can’t return to the sea by themselves. them.4 We are not required to ensure When the sun gets high, they will die, that the candles remain lit and we unless I throw them back into the cannot guarantee how widely they w a t e r.” will be seen. We are required to do our part by lighting the candles. The The old man replied, “But there must rest is not in our hands. be tens of thousands of starfish on this beach. You won’t really be able to The nature of the mitzvah accu- make much of a difference.” rately reflects the historical event Scan here to join Rabbi Taragin’s it eternalizes. The Chashmonaim The boy bent down, picked up WhatsApp group with daily Divrei Torah fought a seemingly hopeless battle. another starfish and threw it as far It was the few against the many, as he could into the ocean. Then he Rabbi Reuven Taragin is Educational the weak against the mighty. That turned to the man and said, “It made Director of Mizrachi and Dean of the said, they knew their responsibility a difference to that one!”5 Yeshivat HaKotel Overseas Program.

Acts of kindness never die. They linger in the memory, giving life to other acts in return. 8 | RABBI SACKS MIZRACHI EDUCATORS TORAT MIZRACHI

Rabbi Reuven Taragin Rabbanit Shani Taragin The End of the Beginning… and The Beginning of the End he Jewish calendar is divided HaShoeva (Masechet Sukkah 5:3). On eight days. The next year he instituted into two periods of six months Chanukah, we commemorate the mira- those days as holidays.” Chazal employ – one beginning with Nissan as cle of finding oil by lighting candles for the exact same terminology in teaching Tthe “first of the months” ( 12:1). eight nights. The Gemara juxtaposes us of the miracle of Chanukah: “A mir- and the other beginning with Tishrei as the laws of wicks and oils used for the acle occurred and they lit the Menorah “” – the beginning of Simchat Beit HaShoeva to the laws of from it for eight days. The next year the the year. Each period is subsequently wicks and oils used to light the Chanu- Sages instituted those days and made divided into two tekufot (seasons)1. Cha- kah candles (Shabbat 21a). them holidays with recitation of nukah is celebrated in the very middle Upon inaugurating the Mikdash, and special thanksgiving in prayer and of the Tishrei–Tevet tekufa, the time Yehuda HaMaccabi commanded the blessings” (Shabbat 21b). Chanukah is of the winter solstice. In many ways, it Jews to celebrate eight days with their the beginning of a new tekufa as day- is therefore the end of the beginning of agricultural species, “like the days of light time increases. Remarkably, we are the year and the beginning of the end ,” for they could not properly cel- enjoined to participate in this increase of the six-month period. ebrate Sukkot that year (Book of Mac- of light in tandem with Hashem’s nat- As the end of the beginning of the year, cabees II, 10:6-7). Just as King Shlomo ural solar forces. we find numerous parallels between inaugurated the Mikdash on Sukkot With numerous vaccines for Coronavi- Chanukah and Sukkot: (Melachim I, 8:65-6), it was purified rus poised for worldwide distribution From Shavuot till Sukkot, Bikkurim are and inaugurated on Chanukah (hence over the next few months, the media brought with the famous proclamation the name – “to dedicate”). is full of news of “the beginning of the of “Arami Oved Avi.” From Sukkot till Chaggai (2:18) delivered his prophecy end of Covid-19.” Chanukah reminds Chanukah they are brought without the concerning the reestablishment of the us that we have reached a critical junc-

proclamation (Mishnah Bikkurim 1:6). Mikdash and the success of the olive ture – we must look back at the past The Sfat Emet (Chanukah 5644) infers harvest on the 24th of Kislev as a con- few months and reflect upon lessons from this that the simcha of Sukkot tinuation of his previous prophecy on we have learned since Nissan, and continues through Chanukah! the 21st of Tishrei (Sukkot).3 especially from Tishrei-Sukkot, till now. Now is also the time to ponder what Beit Shammai’s position of lighting Cha- The Sfat Emet explains that the “light the upcoming months of Tevet-Shevat- nukah candles in descending sequence of Sukkot” mandated by the Torah is Adar may bring. from 8-1 is based on the descending reflected through the rabbinic holiday order of sacrifices offered on Sukkot of Chanukah!4 Sukkot and Chanukah teach us that the (Shabbat 21b). light of one season has effects on the With its many parallels to the Tishrei subsequent ones as well. The light of Juxtaposed to the laws of the holiday holiday of Sukkot, Chanukah not only Chanukah shines not just from natural of Sukkot in Parashat , the Torah concludes the beginning of the season, sources. We also banish the darkness teaches us to contribute pure olive oil but is also the beginning of the end of through our own “candle lighting” ini- to light the menorah in the Mikdash – a the first six months of the year, as it tiatives as we prepare for better and hint to Chanukah. Rav Eliezer of Worms heralds “Tekufat Tevet.” Not in an apoc- brighter beginnings! says the holidays are connected by the alyptic sense of course; on the contrary, number of days and by the full Hallel Chanukah reinvigorates and inspires us (Rokeach, Hilchot Chanukah 225). to anticipate redemption in literally the 1 See Eruvin 56a-b, Sanhedrin 13a and Avodah The Gemara invalidates Chanukah can- darkest times of the year. Zara 8a. dles and a sukkah higher than 20 amot.2 2 Shabbat 22a (see Tosfot “ner”). The Gemara (Avodah Zara 8a) records 3 See Rav Yoel Bin-Nun, “Yom Yesod Heichal There is a principle of “Hiddur – how Adam HaRishon saw the daylight Hashem,” Megadim 12, 49-97. Mehadrin min HaMehadrin” that hours receding and thought Hashem 4 Chanukah 5641. applies particularly to the Four Spe- wanted to restore the world to com- cies on Sukkot and lighting candles on plete darkness as punishment for his Rabbanit Shani Taragin is Educational Chanukah ( OC 671:2). sin. He therefore fasted for eight days Director of Mizrachi and the Director of Torches of fire accompanied the spec- until he saw the daylight hours begin the Mizrachi Matan Lapidot Educators’ tacular dancing at the Simchat Beit to increase, and then he “celebrated for Program.

Moral reflection needs time the way the human body needs oxygen. RABBI SACKS | 9 TORAT MIZRACHI

Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon Rabbanit Sharon Rimon We are All Kohanim on Chanukah! fter lighting Chanukah can- One could indeed fulfill one’s obliga- used to fulfill a mitzvah (which may dles, we have the custom of tion with just one candle, but there is be used for purposes other than the hidur, glorification, in lighting mul- mitzvah itself), our Sages instituted ַה ֵ ּנ ר וֹ ת reciting the passage According to Masechet Sofrim,1 tiple candles. The berachot must also that the Chanukah candles are like the . ַה ָּל ּלוA involve the additional ‘glorified’ can- candles of the Menorah and therefore ְל ַה ְד ִליק we recite it after the beracha .and dles; one must not create an interrup- they have a certain holiness שׁ ֶ ָ ע ָ ׂש ה ִנ ּ ִ ס י ם and before ֵנר שֶׁ ל ֲחֻנָּכה -tion between the blessings and light . שׁ ֶ ֶ ה ֱ ח ָ י נ ּו 5 In light of this (excuse the pun), we 2 ing them. Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach explains could say that by instituting the com- that from this passage we see that the pur- How then does the Maharshal under- parison between Chanukah lights and pose of lighting the candles is “in order stand this? Mikdash lights, our Sages were imply- to express thanks and praise,” an inherent ing that a person’s home is like the It is possible that in his opinion, part of the purpose of the mitzvah. There- Mikdash, and that the person lighting although one must not interrupt להדליק fore, after the blessing ִ ְ ַ ְ , we say them is like the . As a result, the -so that during the lighting we between the berachot and the begin , ַה ֵּנרוֹ ת ַה ָּל ּלו ning of the observance of the mitzvah, mitzvah of lighting candles is not like know to focus on the miracle of the salva- any other personal mitzvah a person tion and on the triumph in the war (and one may stop during the performance does in his home. It is a shared mitz- since this is a fundamental part of per- of the mitzvah for things related to vah which belongs to all of Am Yis- forming the mitzvah, it is not an interrup- the mitzvah. rael, and it is certainly worthy to glo- tion between the blessing and performing rify a shared mitzvah! the mitzvah). Chanukah Candles and Mikdash Candles Now we can understand the Maharshal. However, according to the reading of It could be that the Maharshal’s The reason for glorifying the mitzvah is only after ַה ֵּנרוֹ ת ַה ָּל ּלו the Tur, we say approach is connected to something the holiness of the lights and their simi- lighting the candles, and thus rules the deeper. larity to the Mikdash, and therefore the Shulchan Aruch: ַה ֵ ּנ ר וֹ ת most appropriate thing is to say -immediately after the basic light ַה ָּל ּלו -After one lights, one should say: ‘These The Shulchan Aruch does not men“ lights we kindle upon the salvations, the tion the basic level of obligation for ing and before the additional ‘glorified’ lighting (one candle per household) lighting, to explain why we are lighting .” ’ ( ַה ֵּנרוֹ ת ַה ָּל ּלו) …miracles, the wonders or even the mehadrin ruling, but 3 the extra candles. The Maharil explains that since recit- only the mehadrin min hamehadrin -is only a custom, it cer- custom. It turns out that the funda ַה ֵּנרוֹ ת ַה ָּל ּלו ing tainly should not be said in between mental tradition of the whole Jewish 1 20:4. the brachot, but only after the lighting. nation has been the mehadrin min 2 Minchat Shlomo, Part 2:54. hamehadrin standard, and therefore The Approach of the Maharshal 3 Responsa 145. the Shulchan Aruch does not bring 4 Responsa 85. Another approach is that of the the alternative customs. Why does 5 The Pri Megadim asks this on the Maharshal:4 after we recite the bless- everyone keep the mehadrin min Maharshal. ings, we light the first candle. We then hamehadrin standard specifically for 6 See my book, “Chanukah – Halacha Mim- kora,” published this year. ?while lighting the rest this mitzvah ַה ֵּנרוֹ ת ַה ָּל ּלו recite of the candles. There is a comparison between the This approach seems odd. If there is Menorah in the Mikdash and Chanu- no problem of interruption, we could kah candles.6 One such comparison is before lighting the tied to the holiness of the Chanukah ַה ֵּנרוֹ ת ַה ָּל ּלו have said first candle, and if there is a problem of candles and the prohibition of utiliz- interruption, it would have been neces- ing their light. The Rishonim explain Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon is Rosh HaYeshiva sary to wait until after finishing lighting that despite the fact Chanukah can- at JCT–Machon Lev and Head of Mizra- the candles! dles are tashmishei mitzvah, objects chi’s Educational Advisory Board.

What Jews remembered from that victory over the Greeks 10 | twenty-two centuries ago was not a G-d of war but the G-d of light. RABBI SACKS TORAT MIZRACHI

Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon Rabbanit Sharon Rimon Appreciate the Miracles hat is Chanukah?... When the Greeks entered the Sanctuary, “Wthey defiled all of the oils. When the Chashmonai dynasty arose and defeated them, they searched but only found one cruse of oil which retained the stamp of the Kohen Gadol, and which contained enough oil to light for no more than explained naturally. The importance or spiritually, there is a need one day. A miracle occurred, and they of the miracle of the cruse of oil is that for a miracle to save them from lit from the oil for eight days. The next it teaches us G-d’s role in the miracle their suffering, or to prove G-d’s year, they instituted those days as a holi- of the military victory. Providence and existence in the face day of praise and thanks.” (Shabbat 21b) of the heresy that rules the world. This idea is significant not only for Why did our Sages choose to Chanukah but for our everyday Should we hope for revealed miracles? emphasize the miracle of the oil life. The Ramban explains that the more than the miracle of the military purpose of the revealed miracles of No. As we have mentioned, revealed victory? The miracle of the victory the Torah is so we understand that miracles were performed during is what saved the Jewish nation, an every single thing that happens, times of crisis. In good times, G-d incredible marvel of the few against happens through G-d. So we can reveals Himself to us through nature. the many that changed the face of acknowledge the miracles and In good times, we act on our own, and Jewish history. If so, isn’t it more we feel G-d’s Hand on our shoulder. wonders that G-d does for us each appropriate to mention that as the day. essence of Chanukah? We are privileged to celebrate Chanukah in an uplifting reality It seems we can delve even deeper This question is magnified in light of in which Am Yisrael have the in explaining this. Sometimes we ,which specifically opportunity to live in their homeland , ַעל ַה ִּנ ִּסים the text of expect a miracle to save us from a emphasizes the victory over the Medinat Yisrael, with a strong Israel certain situation, or to prove G-d’s Greeks: “You delivered the strong Defense Forces. existence or love for us. This stems into the hands of the weak, the many from the premise that a miracle is a into the hands of the few, the impure When we light Chanukah candles high level of connection with G-d. into the hands of the pure, the wicked and contemplate their light, let Indeed, a miracle is an overt Divine into the hands of the righteous, the us remember the cruse of oil and intervention that changes the order of G-d’s great love for us. That is what wanton into the hands of the diligent nature. G-d’s presence is very obvious protects us from generation to students of your Torah. For Yourself, in miracles. generation, every hour and every You made a great and holy Name moment. Recognize the Hand of in Your world, and for Your people However, when we focus on miracles G-d that guided us in the war of the Israel you worked a great victory and that G-d has performed for Am Chashmonaim, that guides us in salvation as this very day. Thereafter, Yisrael, we discover something the process of the redemption we Your children came to the Holy of fascinating. Miracles were performed are privileged to be part of, and that Holies of Your House, cleansed Your during periods of hardship and illuminates our path morning, noon Temple, purified the site of Your suffering, not during the better times. and night. Holiness and kindled lights in the courtyards of Your Sanctuary.” So it was with the 10 Plagues and the splitting of Yam Suf, the various The Maharal explains that although miracles in the desert, the miracles the victory over the Greeks is the of Eliyahu and Elisha, and also Rabbanit Sharon Rimon teaches Tanach main reason for celebrating the with Chanukah. When the Jews and is Content Editor for the HaTanakh holiday, every military victory can be are in severe distress, physically website.

To be a Jew is to be part of a history touched, in a mysterious yet unmistakable way, by the hand of Providence. | 11 RABBI SACKS TORAT MIZRACHI

Rabbi Danny Mirvis The Singular Light of Chanukah With so many lights being lit, why However, the distinctions will not do we bless in the singular form, last forever, for as long as there “To kindle the Chanukah light,” as are arguments, holiness cannot opposed to the seemingly more be established in the world. The appropriate blessing, “To kindle the essence of this blessing is the bless- Chanukah lights”? ing for peace, and it will be fulfilled in the future when the realization On a straightforward level, one can is clear to all that all the individual answer that we make a blessing on lights are really one light. There- the basic requirement of one light fore, the Chanukah blessing does per household per night, regardless of not mention lights (in the plural), which night of Chanukah it is. Seeing for it focuses its attention towards as any additional lights are a hiddur the more exalted distance, towards (beautification) and not part of the the more supreme future” (Olat core commandment, they are not Re’iyah Vol.1, page 435). included in the blessing. The world has many lofty values and (This answer is less straightforward, priorities. Whilst each of these indi- however, when coming to explain why vidual “lights” has an important role each member of Ashkenazi house- to play, they can also become a source holds makes a blessing. Unless we of conflict as they compete for sig- require every member of the house- nificance and superiority. In truth, othing Compares hold to actively or passively exclude however, “all the individual lights are themselves from being included in really one light” – from a spiritual the blessings made by others, we may perspective, all these important values Imagine the highest living standard need to assume that one does in fact originate from a singular source and make a blessing on a hiddur and our are destined to reunite in harmonious Open your eyes and see the view original question remains.) unity. The less we argue and the more Rav Kook addressed this question we recognize “the supreme purpose of Breathe the air, feel the atmosphere in his commentary on Tefillah, Olat life,” the more holiness can be estab- Re’iyah. For him, the blessing we lished in the world. make on Chanukah is not only about Thus on Chanukah, we light numer- the technical act being performed at ous separate lights, as indeed there that moment. It represents the inner 4, 5 & 6 Room apartments, Penthouses & are multiple ways to find light and nature of light and the supreme pur- share light in this world. While pose of life: Garden apartments being built in the new acknowledging the plurality of lights, “Chanukah… depicts all the the ultimate ideal is reflected in our Neve Nof neighborhood in Neve Daniel sources of light that need to radiate blessing of peace and unity – “To in the Nation: the light of Torah, kindle the (singular) Chanukah light.” the light of prophecy, the light of very night of Chanukah, we light wisdom, the light of justice, the numerous lights, ascending in light of courage, the light of joy, the number each day. Many families light of lovingkindness, the light E(following the predominant Ashkenazi of love, etc. However, prior to the custom) do not suffice with one set of realization of the supreme purpose lights, but light several sets, corre- of life, these many individual lights sponding to the number of members appear to us as if they are separate Rabbi Danny Mirvis is the Senior Rabbi of of the household. matters… Mizrachi Melbourne. החברה לפיתוח חפשו נווה נוף .Jewish unity is a cause that is not advanced by the advocacy of one point of view over another It demands the difficult but not impossible exercise of thinking non-adjectivally as a Jew: גוש עציון 2944 'נווה נוף - הבית שלי בנווה דניאל' הבית שלי בנווה דניאל | 12 not as a member of this or that group, but as a member of an indivisible people. RABBI SACKS * TORAT MIZRACHI

Rabbi Danny Mirvis

othing Compares Imagine the highest living standard Open your eyes and see the view Breathe the air, feel the atmosphere

4, 5 & 6 Room apartments, Penthouses & Garden apartments being built in the new Neve Nof neighborhood in Neve Daniel

החברה לפיתוח חפשו נווה נוף גוש עציון 2944* 'נווה נוף - הבית שלי בנווה דניאל' הבית שלי בנווה דניאל TORAT MIZRACHI MIZRACHI SCHOLARS-IN-RESIDENCE

Sivan Rahav Meir and Yedidya Meir

Eight Thoughts for Eight Days

Self-sacrifice. It sounds like an of online products. The human brain child-rearing (whoever makes a floor- old, antiquated, irrelevant word. simply cannot contend with the flood mop of himself cannot expect respect In previous generations, there of information – much of it unnec- from their spouse or children), but it 1was self-sacrifice; today everything essary and undesirable – coming its is also true nationally. Some 200 years is easy and comfortable. Neverthe- way. ago, Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch in less, the past year has taught us all a Germany dealt with many Jews who lesson in a new kind of self-sacrifice: Rav Chagai Londin, of the abandoned and belittled their tradi- Grandma must not be hugged. It is yeshiva in Sderot, writes that this is tion. At that time, he wrote an essay forbidden to pray together. Things exactly what we need to learn from for Chanukah, in which he reminded that were considered mitzvot became Chanukah – how to contend with the them that even if they give up on their offenses, and vice-versa. Our basic powerful forces of the surrounding culture, it would still not help them to Jewish communal life… collapsed. culture. We become dizzy and con- integrate into German society: Much of what we loved… diminished. fused, continually bombarded by alien We are at home more than ever, close forces and hedonistic messages, but “To the extent to which you respect to the nuclear family, far from every- must strive to keep our focus: and admire your past and your holy one else. We need to wear weird and values, so will the nations respect you. “Am Yisrael always tries to connect annoying masks, keep a distance, It could be that for this reason or the everything to one place: ‘Shema Yis- wash our hands. other you will win less or more sympa- rael, Hashem Elokeinu, Hashem thy from them, but their respect – you But we are doing it together. The Echad.’ G-d is One. We endeavor to will win. However, if you yourself treat whole world, and the Jewish world focus and to concentrate and to unite your past with disrespect, if you do within it, is going through a period of the forces of the soul into our purpose not respect the burial places of your trial, of examination, as in previous for living. Greek culture was a culture fathers, if you do not respect your Holy generations. It is our self-sacrifice. of many idols, with many focal points Temple and you do not try to acquire After almost a year of small outside targeted in every direction. The strug- proper knowledge of your Torah – how minyanim, of Zoom, of days in iso- gle of the Hasmoneans has not ended. could you expect others to respect you lation, of Seder and Rosh Hashanah Today too, we are likely to live absent- and your forefathers? Many pleasures so different from what we are used minded lives of perpetual distraction, are in store for you if you deny the to, of chesed and Torah and prayer of running from one new thing to the Torah, but respect is not one of them. that have undergone such creative next, of always searching for something How great the mistake that all of those changes – after all this, Chanukah has that doesn’t exist. To defend ourselves progressive, educated people made, arrived! We light Chanukah candles from overpowering forces that seem the priests of renewal. Go out and and know that we too are heroes and stronger than ourselves, each of us learn what a Chanukah candle tells pioneers. We too know something needs to be a Maccabee – not to be you!” about self-sacrifice and how to come ashamed to take breaks, to set bound- through the darkness stronger. aries, and to take control of our digi- Ori Kotler, a commander in the tal devices instead of allowing them Rotem Unit of the Givati Bri- Every single minute, worldwide, to take control of us. The Chanukah gade, shared the following idea humans are sending 18 million struggle is not over.” 4with us: text messages, watching more 2than four million video clips, down- If you do not respect yourself, no There is a famous phrase that states loading 400,000 computer apps, and one will respect you. This princi- that if you have a hammer in your buying more than $1 million worth 3ple holds true in marriage and in hand, everything looks like a nail. So 14 | MIZRACHI SCHOLARS-IN-RESIDENCE TORAT MIZRACHI

how would the world look to us if solely to military courage. No wonder we hold a candle in our hand? This we sometimes experience frustration is the purpose of Chanukah: to edu- with our heroes in Israeli society and cate us to find the light in everything are so desperate to find new ones. and in every person, to see reality on So what is heroism according to the a deeper level, to discover the secret ְּג ּבוָרה Torah? Very simple. The word within. (heroism) comes from the same root as to overcome. What – ְל ִה ְת ַּג ֵּבר Rabbi Ya’akov Moshe Charlap the word explains that we must take this prin- do you overcome? Your instincts. And ciple from Chanukah into the rest of that is relevant for each and every one of us, because the war on our instincts the year: “These days, the eight days in a neighborhood of light,” he con- is not just on the battlefield. It’s in the of Chanukah, which were set as days fided. “I begged my father to let us be “Black Friday” shopping craze, in line of praise and thanks, days of marvel- like everyone else. I felt like a Jewish at the supermarket and even at home, ing – marveling at the sublimity of alien and was ashamed of who I was. I between us and our children. And yes, every mitzvah, at the majesty of sanc- wanted to be a non-Jew with the same it’s also about inappropriate sexual tity, these days are the origin of all the burning desire I had to be a movie behavior. Stories of heroism from the marveling which we will experience director.” throughout the year. Every marvel battlefield are necessary for every nation which brings with it greatness – stems We painfully read these words, full in its infancy, but it seems to me the time from Chanukah.” The ability to marvel of admiration for Jews throughout has come to expand the canopy to other types of heroism in Israeli society.” and be excited about every point of the generations who kept their iden- light in the Torah, about every point tity with love, despite being a small We sing, say brachot, eat, play of light during the year – is like a con- minority within a flashy majority and talk by the light of our stant candle in our hand. culture. Chanukah candles, but taking 7a moment to daven by the candles is There is only one Land where the We have returned from our Miz- considered a great thing. Time should party and the celebration are all our rachi shlichut in America. When be devoted to prayer as well. As the own, only one Land that pulsates with our shlichut began, we were just 19th-century Chassidic , Israel a Jewish rhythm. Learn to appreciate 5out of it, especially during the holi- Friedman of Ruzhyn, said of praying it. days. Over there, it was not our party, by the candles on the special day, the not our celebration. At the beginning Israeli journalist, Oded Harush, eighth day of Chanukah: “The same of our stay, we saw a pumpkin next to published a text that goes against action that the greatest tzaddikim of the front door of almost every house the macho perception in Israeli the generation cannot perform in the and scary costumes. Halloween, nice 6culture. It‘s worth reading: Neilah prayer on , any to meet you. Next, turkeys and a mul- simple Jew can ask and enact in front titude of invitations to “Thanksgiving “Did you ever think about what Shim- of the candles on the eighth day of Dinner” that reminded us of “Where shon HaGibor or Yehuda HaMacca- Chanukah.” will you be going for the Seder?” And bee looked like? Imagine them for a then the clerk in our local Target store moment. Rambo? Hercules? There’s At the end of Chanukah, some told us: “From Black Friday through a reason we imagine our heroes that people greet each other with gmar chatima tova! The eighth January 1st, we can only play Christ- way. When Chanukah was called the candle of Chanukah is considered the mas songs. It’s one of our rules.” We “Holiday of Heroism” over the years, 8 conclusion of the entire period that did count a few menorahs displayed in it was referring to the culture of the began on Rosh Chodesh Elul, through front windows but they were minimal spirit. To the war on Greek culture. Selichot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, compared to the numerous reindeers, But what is left of all this in Israeli Sukkot, Atzeret and Simchat sleighs and trees. culture? Greek culture, which sancti- fies the macho man. Instead of fighting Torah. Gmar chatima tova! Steven Spielberg once said how as a Greek culture, we inadvertently got Sivan Rahav Meir and Yedidya Meir are child he wanted to decorate his house: sucked into it. Instead of expanding popular Israeli media personalities and “Our house seemed like a black hole the concept of heroism, we reduced it World Mizrachi’s Scholars-in-Residence.

People do not win respect by insisting on the right to be respected. Respect is earned: that is what makes it respect. | 15 RABBI SACKS Programs every day of Chanukah, each featuring a candle-lighting from around the world and a Chanukah thought from Rabbi Sacks

A MIZRACHI THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2020 5:30 PM Mini-Tour: Maccabee Hiding Caves | Short thought: Sivan Rahav Meir | Modern Maccabee: Avigdor Kahalani 7:30 PM Concert: The Maccabeats

זצ"ל IN MEMORY OF RABBI LORD JONATHAN SACKS Chanukah FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2020 2:00 PM Mini-Tour: Hasmonean Battleground | Short thought: Rabbi Doron Perez | Modern Maccabee: Ambassador David Friedman EIGHT NIGHTS. EIGHT LIGHTS. EIGHT INSIGHTS. MOTZA’EI SHABBAT, DECEMBER 12, 2020 Concerts with Mini-Tours of Torah Thoughts from 7:00 PM Mini-Tour: Hellenistic Burial Caves | Short thought: Rabbi Jeremy Gimpel | Modern Maccabee: Miriam Peretz Rav Shlomo Katz Chanukah Sites Leading Educators 7:30 PM Integration or Assimilation: Dr. Warren Goldstein, Dr. Tovah Lichtenstein, Rabbi Doron Perez, Rabbanit Shani Taragin and the Maccabeats

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020 5:30 PM Mini-Tour: Hasmonean Army Base | Short thought: Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon | Modern Maccabee: Rabbi Yosef Mendelevich 7:30 PM Food for Thought: Jamie Geller and Rabbanit Shani Taragin Modern-Day Candle-Lighting on Location Food for Thought Maccabees Around the World with Jamie Geller and MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020 Rabbanit Shani Taragin 5:30 PM Mini-Tour: Jaffa Gate and the Hasmonean Walls | Short thought: Dr. Yael Ziegler | Modern Maccabee: Minister Rafi Peretz 7:30 PM Concert: Rabbi Shlomo Katz

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2020 5:30 PM Mini-Tour: Hasmonean Desert Fortress | Short thought: Rabbanit Rachelle Fraenkel | Modern Maccabee: Dr. Naomi Marmon Grumet Athletics Chanukah Discussion: In Sound and Spirit 7:30 PM Athletics in Judaism: Rabbi Josh Halickman, Yael Arad, Beatie Deutsch, Yuval Freilich, Tamir Goodman, Elliott Steinmetz in Judaism Integration or Assimilation with Rabbi Dr. JJ Schacter and Shim Craimer

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2020 5:30 PM Mini-Tour: Shilo Olive Press & Har HaZeitim | Short thought: Rabbi Menachem Leibtag | Modern Maccabee: Rabbi 7:30 PM In Sound and Spirit: Rabbi Dr. JJ Schacter and Shim Craimer

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2020 FROM DECEMBER 10, 2020 5:30 PM Mini-Tour: The Golden Menorah in the | Short thought: Rabbanit Shani Taragin | Modern Maccabee: Kurt Rothschild Premiering at mizrachi.tv 7:30 PM in Hebrew: Sivan Rahav Meir SOME PROGRAMS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO VIEW ON DEMAND AFTERWARDS | TIMES LISTED ARE ISRAEL TIME Programs every day of Chanukah, each featuring a candle-lighting from around the world and a Chanukah thought from Rabbi Sacks

A MIZRACHI THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2020 5:30 PM Mini-Tour: Maccabee Hiding Caves | Short thought: Sivan Rahav Meir | Modern Maccabee: Avigdor Kahalani 7:30 PM Concert: The Maccabeats

זצ"ל IN MEMORY OF RABBI LORD JONATHAN SACKS Chanukah FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2020 2:00 PM Mini-Tour: Hasmonean Battleground | Short thought: Rabbi Doron Perez | Modern Maccabee: Ambassador David Friedman EIGHT NIGHTS. EIGHT LIGHTS. EIGHT INSIGHTS. MOTZA’EI SHABBAT, DECEMBER 12, 2020 Concerts with Mini-Tours of Torah Thoughts from 7:00 PM Mini-Tour: Hellenistic Burial Caves | Short thought: Rabbi Jeremy Gimpel | Modern Maccabee: Miriam Peretz Rav Shlomo Katz Chanukah Sites Leading Educators 7:30 PM Integration or Assimilation: Chief Rabbi Dr. Warren Goldstein, Dr. Tovah Lichtenstein, Rabbi Doron Perez, Rabbanit Shani Taragin and the Maccabeats

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2020 5:30 PM Mini-Tour: Hasmonean Army Base | Short thought: Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon | Modern Maccabee: Rabbi Yosef Mendelevich 7:30 PM Food for Thought: Jamie Geller and Rabbanit Shani Taragin Modern-Day Candle-Lighting on Location Food for Thought Maccabees Around the World with Jamie Geller and MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020 Rabbanit Shani Taragin 5:30 PM Mini-Tour: Jaffa Gate and the Hasmonean Walls | Short thought: Dr. Yael Ziegler | Modern Maccabee: Minister Rafi Peretz 7:30 PM Concert: Rabbi Shlomo Katz

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2020 5:30 PM Mini-Tour: Hasmonean Desert Fortress | Short thought: Rabbanit Rachelle Fraenkel | Modern Maccabee: Dr. Naomi Marmon Grumet Athletics Chanukah Discussion: In Sound and Spirit 7:30 PM Athletics in Judaism: Rabbi Josh Halickman, Yael Arad, Beatie Deutsch, Yuval Freilich, Tamir Goodman, Elliott Steinmetz in Judaism Integration or Assimilation with Rabbi Dr. JJ Schacter and Shim Craimer

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2020 5:30 PM Mini-Tour: Shilo Olive Press & Har HaZeitim | Short thought: Rabbi Menachem Leibtag | Modern Maccabee: Rabbi Yehudah Glick 7:30 PM In Sound and Spirit: Rabbi Dr. JJ Schacter and Shim Craimer

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2020 FROM DECEMBER 10, 2020 5:30 PM Mini-Tour: The Golden Menorah in the Old City | Short thought: Rabbanit Shani Taragin | Modern Maccabee: Kurt Rothschild Premiering at mizrachi.tv 7:30 PM Shiur in Hebrew: Sivan Rahav Meir SOME PROGRAMS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO VIEW ON DEMAND AFTERWARDS | TIMES LISTED ARE ISRAEL TIME GLOBAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS

Rabbi David Stav

The Real Choice Today

hanukah is perhaps the most to exchange the magnificent Greek that nourishes the Jewish people to this beloved holiday of the year. The temples, the packed stadiums, for some very day. vast majority of Jews (religious dilapidated Jewish study halls? A mitzvah is a candle“ , ֵנר ִמ ְצָוה ְותוֹ ָרה אוֹ ר and not so religious) light candles and C Of course there were a handful who and the Torah is light” (Mishlei 6:23). eat donuts and latkes. On the occasions did believe in the Jewish people. They I have married non-religious couples on Thanks to this holiday, we reveal the were able to miraculously vanquish the Chanukah, they usually ask me to begin light we have in our lives, the great priv- enemy on the military battlefield but the ceremony by lighting the candles. ilege we have of being Jewish and being spiritually and culturally? No chance. part of the great story our nation has It is no coincidence that the Rambam We can see a similar scenario in our brought to the world. writes that “The mitzvah of ner Chanu- times too. Entire cultures are collapsing Rabbi Sacks zt”l used to say that in the kah is a much beloved mitzvah.” This in the face of western culture, without past we were the chosen people. We is an unusual statement as our Sages even one shot being fired or one missile were forced to be Jews. Our enemies are not accustomed to assign grades to being launched. different mitzvot, and certainly not in generally didn’t allow us to assimi- halachic works, in which people’s emo- late (apart from Greece, who wanted tional connection to mitzvot does not Entire cultures are to assimilate us along with all other really influence the halachic discourse. “” collapsing in the nations.) Therefore, this is evidently more than face of western Now, we are the people that choose. We a social comment about the spread culture, without need to decide if we want to be Jews or not. In that sense, Chanukah is the of the holiday among all sections of even one shot being the people. The fondness we have for quintessential contemporary holiday. lighting Chanukah candles can teach fired or one missile Just like then, we need to choose. It’s us a significant principle we can use being launched not easy because we don’t have anyone as a beacon for both our present and physically forcing us like they did back our future. The reason we are so con- then, and we have a powerful culture nected to this holiday should serve us So it wasn’t simple at all to decide to bombarding us from all angles. We as a paradigm for our Jewish lives – and celebrate Chanukah. Especially when need to decide. is perhaps something we are not always its main theme is the dedication of the The mitzvah of ner Chanukah teaches aware of in our crazy times. Mikdash desecrated by the Greeks. The us the best way to spread the Torah’s same Mikdash that no longer stands. messages. The story of Chanukah does not start Why celebrate a day that no longer has particularly well. It’s not all clear but it is any significance? Would anyone still To reveal the light within it. agreed that the Greek Empire that ruled celebrate Yom HaAtzmaut if – G-d To encourage the younger generation to over Eretz Yisrael at the time forbade forbid – Iran would destroy Israel? continue to help the Jewish people grow the Jews from keeping the mitzvot and and flourish, they must feel this thing worked to transform the Jewish popu- Therefore, it is seemingly not the mili- is “beloved.” They must feel the Torah lation into another cultural Hellenist tary victory we are celebrating. We are is relevant and meaningful for each and enclave. The Jews didn’t need too much marking the cultural courage of those every one of them. That Jewish wisdom persuasion as they were keen to discard Maccabim who decided they wanted to and tradition can make them better the national yoke of Torat Moshe and remain Jews even if the Mikdash was no people, happier people, living lives of become part of a “global village” soaked longer, and the Jewish State destroyed. meaning, growth and purpose. in a Greek culture that was very attrac- Their Jewish spirit was not broken. tive and appealing. As indeed it can. On the contrary. It became stronger and Who wants to be an isolated minority gained traction. Our Sages compiled the in a hostile world boasting power, con- Mishnah and the Gemara and eventu- Rabbi David Stav is Chief Rabbi of fidence and esthetics? Who would want ally the entire gamut of Jewish literature Shoham.

For as long as Jews are Jews, they contribute something unique to the intellectual, 18 | spiritual and moral life of society. So that if Jews are no longer Jews there is a missing voice, an empty place, in the conversation of mankind. RABBI SACKS GLOBAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS

Rabbi David Stav Rabbi Avraham Shapira zt”l The Three Foundational Mitzvot

n Al HaNissim, we say the Greeks “And behold a great terror of darkness sought to “violate the laws of Your fell upon him,”4 the Midrash explains5 will.” This expression shows that the that the Greeks fought against the IGreeks did not actually fight mitzvah Torah, determined to cause a rift observance, but rather the root of that between the Torah and the people of observance, the Will of G-d. Israel. Hence they decreed a ban against Hence the Maccabean victory over Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh and circum- the Greeks was a victory for Torah cision: “And Antiochus answered and and Bnei Torah over the kingdom of said unto his ministers... Let us rise Greece. Chanukah is therefore a hol- upon them, and cut them off from iday of Bnei Torah, which is implied in the covenant which was made for two places: them: Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh and Mila” (Antiochus 7:11).1 The Greeks First, the victory of the Chashmonaim waged war precisely against these is hinted upon in the blessing of three mitzvot because they are the Moshe to the tribe of Levi: “Bless, root of the Torah. O L-rd, his resources and favor his garment, to buy oil and lamps and 7 2 undertakings. Smite the loins of his light them.” The Maharal argues that the first foes and enemies so they rise no Why does the Rambam consider appearance of anything is also the 6 root and purpose of the same thing, more.” Rashi comments: “Moshe saw lighting Chanukah candles a pre- and includes everything about that that the Chashmonaim would fight cious mitzvah? The Maggid Mishne thing. This principle is clearly illus- the Greeks, and he prayed for them explains that his source is the above trated in the Torah. The first man- since they would be few – 12 Chash- Gemara. In contrast to all the other ifestation of the Torah is in these monaim and Eleazar – against several mitzvot, for which we receive our three mitzvot, given even before the tens of thousands.” It is well known reward in the World to Come, upon Torah was given: the mitzvah of cir- that Moshe’s blessing to the tribe lighting the Chanukah candles we cumcision was given to our Avraham of Levi is guaranteed to all who set receive our reward immediately Avinu, the mitzvah to sanctify the themselves apart from the affairs of through our children becoming talmi- New Moon was given to the Children the world for the purpose of studying dei chachamim. A direct response to of Israel in Egypt and the mitzvah of the Torah. the Greeks’ intention to detach Am Shabbat was given at Marah. All three Yisrael from Torat Yisrael. Secondly, it is implied in the Gemara of these mitzvot are the root and pur- Adapted from “Shiurei HaRav Avraham Sha- (Shabbat 23b), when it says, “One who pose of the Torah, and so the Greeks pira on Ketubot and Kiddushin”. is accustomed to kindle lights will sought to uproot them all. be rewarded with children who are The Greeks wanted to disconnect 1 See also Sfat Emet, 5662, and Chanu- Torah scholars.” Rashi explains that kah, 5647 and 5648. Israel from the Torah, for with- lights refer to Shabbat and Chanukah 2 Netzach Yisrael, 3 and other places. out these foundational mitzvot, it is candles. 3 Netzach Yisrael, 3 and other places. impossible to access its depths. They According to the Rambam: “The 4 Bereishit 15:12. did not want to destroy the Jews; 5 Bereishit Rabbah, 44:17. precept of lighting the menorah is they wanted to destroy Judaism, the 6 33:11. uniqueness of Am Yisrael. As the exceedingly precious, and one should 7 Devarim 33:11 Midrash says,3 “‘darkness’ refers to carefully observe it to acclaim the the Greek exile, which darkened the miracle, ever praising and thanking eyes of Israel with their decrees and G-d for the miracles He has per- would say to them: ‘write on the horn formed for us. Even if one has noth- of the bull that you have no part in the ing to eat except what he gets from Rabbi Avraham Shapira zt”l was the Ashke- G-d of Israel’ and regarding the verse, charity, he should borrow, or sell his nazi Chief Rabbi of Israel from 1983 to 1993.

Judaism is about relationships. The Greeks asked, What exists? Jews asked, What is the relationship between the things that exist? | 19 RABBI SACKS GLOBAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS

Rabbi Hershel Schachter

Lighting the Candles at ‘Home’

he Magen Avraham (263:15) a temporary basis, the former would The primary purpose of hadlakat haneirot for Shabbat is to illuminate . ְמקוֹ ם ִ ּד ָירה cites a practice that women who constitute one’s were going to use the mikvah the room in which the seuda will take Ton Friday night would light candles Similarly, if one has two homes, but place (Rama 263:10). However, if this in the adjoining shul. This practice is one home is more comfortable than is not possible, such as in the case of no longer followed (Mishnah Berurah the other, the more comfortable home guests in a hotel who are unable to light in the dining room, we hold that . ֵּביתוֹ because the hadlaka must be would be the one classified as (263:21 of yeshiva students the hadlaka is acceptable even if done ַּב ִית in one’s home, a location that meets the Therefore, the The Mishnah who would sleep in the yeshiva dor- in a different room than the one in . ֵּביתוֹ halachic definition of Berurah elaborates on this requirement mitory but would eat their meals in which the seuda will be eaten (Magen based on the principles gleaned from the homes of community members, Avraham 263:21). the Gemara in Eruvin (72b-73a), which where they felt relatively uncomfort- In this case, the hadlaka should be in ref- able, would be the dormitory in which ֵּביתוֹ discusses the definition of done in the hotel room (using an .and they slept ֵע ּרו ֵבי ֲח ֵצרוֹ ת erence to the dinim of incandescent bulb). It is not proper ֵּביתוֹ The location labeled as . ּ ְ ת ח ּו ם שׁ ַ ָ ּ ב ת The machloket between Rav and to light in a public room set aside for for the purposes of hadlakat neirot Shmuel refers to a case in which both hadlakat neirot, since that room does ֵּביתוֹ Shabbat would also be relevant for the homes are equally permanent and not have the status of ; it is not the -This prac] . ְמקוֹ ם ִל ָינה or the ְמקוֹ ם ִּפ ָּיתא proper location in which to light neirot Chanukah. equally comfortable. In that case, we follow the opinion of Rav that the tice is very problematic for another is the primary residence reason as well. Since there are many ְמקוֹ ם ִּפ ָּיתא The Gemara discusses the location of candles being lit in such close proxim- place of residence), and would be the proper location in) ְמקוֹ ם ִ ּד ָירה one’s ity to each other, it is unclear if there citing a machloket between Rav and which to light. is any illumination gained from such a Shmuel as to whether it is determined hadlaka.] the place of eating) or A further criterion used to determine) ְמקוֹ ם ִּפ ָּיתא by which residence should be labeled as -the place of sleeping). The If one lights in his home, but the can) ְמקוֹ ם ִל ָינה ֵּביתוֹ Gemara explains that, in fact, either would be which residence is more dles will not continue to burn until could at private. If one residence is clearly the conclusion of the seuda he is ְמקוֹ ם ִל ָינה or the ְמקוֹ ם ִּפ ָּיתא the ,If one of the more private than the other, the pri- partaking of at a different location . ֵּביתוֹ times be labeled as locations is used beikviut (on a per- vate room would have the status of such that no benefit will be gained on ּ -not the Shabbat from the hadlaka, the mitz , ְמקוֹ ם ִל ָינה even if it is the , ֵביתוֹ manent basis), and the other only on -Mishnah Berurah 263:29). vah will not have been fulfilled (Shul) ְמקוֹ ם ִּפ ָּיתא Therefore, yeshiva students who share chan Aruch 263:9). In such a case, one a dormitory room should light neirot should light in his home using electric Chanukah in that relatively private bulbs or long-lasting candles, which room, and not in the public dining will remain lit until he returns to his room used by all the students (Igrot home. Moshe, Yoreh De’ah, chelek 3, 14:5). Adapted from Rav Schachter on the Moadim. If one finds himself in a different city than the other members of his family, 1 See B’Ikvei HaTzon, pp. 117-123. he must perform hadlakat neirot himself, even if his wife lights candles in his family’s house (Orach Chaim 263:6). His wife’s hadlaka in a differ- Rabbi Hershel Schachter is Rosh ent city does not constitute a hadlaka Yeshiva and Rosh Kollel at Rabbi Isaac since he is not metzuraf (con- Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva , ֵּביתוֹ in nected) to that house at this time. 1 University.

20 | Peace in the home is where world peace begins. RABBI SACKS GLOBAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS

Receive HaMizrachi with ! Sign up today! Email: [email protected]

Your monthly dose of Torah Special features to Parenting and marriage in English from leading set the mood for the advice, Rav Kook’s teachings, and male and female educators upcoming holidays Places in Israel and more!

For HaMizrachi dedication opportunities, email: [email protected] or call 050-480-0664 GLOBAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS

Rabbanit Rachelle Fraenkel

Chanukah 1948

ovember 1947. The UN’s the strength of my hand gave me this non-religious – at the end of the war, Partition Plan is announced wealth.” on Chanukah, December 1948: “…The and the War of Independence mystery of the miraculous victory of Nbegins… Indeed, one of the most famous Israeli the few against the many is the most Chanukah songs, written by Colonel perfect expression of the strength of Mid-May 1948. The British Man- Aharon Ze’ev, the IDF’s Chief Edu- date ends and Ben-Gurion declares the spirit when faced with oppressive ֹלא ְב ַח ִיל ְוֹלא ְב ַכֹח ִּכי cation Officer during Rav Goren’s the new State of Israel, signaling the military might… ִאם ְּב ּרו ִחי ָא ַמר ה ”tenure, is called “We Carry Torches second and more intensive phase of , “Not by might nor by and is still played today at national power but by My spirit, said G-d.” the war. The bloody battles continue Yom HaAtzmaut ceremonies. The for over six months (more than 6,000 chorus is: Thus and only thus were the many are killed, approximately 1% of all the A miracle did not happen for us able to fall before the few, because the Jews in Eretz Yisrael at the time!) few knew what they were fighting for May 26, 1948. The IDF is established We did not find a cruse of oil. and for whom they were prepared to and a young man who took part in the We eroded rocks until we bled… die: for the purity of faith in the Word battles himself is appointed its first of G-d, for the Torah of their G-d And there was light! Chief Rabbi. and the Land of their forefathers, for The song was written before the State human freedom and spiritual release From his very first day in office, Rabbi was established, but became more from a foreign culture, and for uni- (then still Goronczik) relevant after the military victories. versal justice that had been in grave saw himself not as a functionary pro- It stresses faith in the human spirit danger… viding religious services to the army, as opposed to reliance on Divine but as someone blazing the trail and Before our very eyes, the great mira- intervention. defining the vision for a sovereign cle of Israel’s redemption happened Jewish army, perhaps the first since December 1948. Chanukah. Against again… with the reawakened spirit of the days of the Chashmonaim. this backdrop, Rav Goren addresses the Chashmonaim, we conquered our the soldiers in Israel’s fledgling fight- Holy Land… The very idea of a Jewish army drew ing force. The war is coming to an Army of Israel! Holy soldiers of the much ideological fire – from non-re- end, the soldiers are exhausted, trau- War of Independence and Renewal, ligious thinkers who viewed the use of matized, wounded, but also bathed in Chanukah is your holiday! In you, force as a contradiction to fundamen- euphoric triumph. tal Jewish values, or those who hoped the spirit beats, and in your hearts the settling of the Land could grad- The Rav attempts to connect them to is a holy, burning fire taken from the ually transpire without any violent the spirit of the Chashmonaim. His altar of G-d… Light the candles of confrontation at all. On the other side task is to strengthen their sense of freedom, carry torches, in the cities were ultra-Orthodox circles who held being party to a huge achievement, of and the villages, in the bases and the that any military action against the displaying irrepressible human spirit, outposts! yet also telling them they are part of local gentiles was irresponsible and Carry with you the command [about completely forbidden, endangering an unprecedented and magnificent miracle. going to war] to those standing at the the lives of the soldiers and breaching foot of Mt. Sinai: ‘…You shall not fear the oaths described in the Midrash All that separates nobility of spirit them… not to rise up against the nations of from hubris is keeping one’s values ִּכי ה’ ֱא ֵ־ֹלק ֶיכם ַה ֵהֹלְך ִעָּמֶכם ְלִהָּלֵחם ָלֶכם ִעם the world. front and center: The clear knowledge ְאֹי ֵב ֶיכם ְלהוֹ ׁ ִש ַיע ֶא ְת ֶכם. Other voices began to emerge from of what we are fighting for and for within the army itself. The military whom we are fighting. The unbreak- “For the L-rd your G-d goes with you able link between the voice of Yehuda success earned with blood and sweat, to fight for you against your enemies HaMaccabi and the sound of Sinai… huge self-sacrifice and brilliant strat- to save you.” And this is what Rav Goren says to the Rabbanit Rachelle Fraenkel teaches ּכֹ ִחי ְו ֶעֹצם agem, led to the belief that .my power and entire army – almost all of which was Torah at midrashot in Israel“ ,ָיִדי ָע ָשׂה ִלי ֶאת ַה ַחִיל ַהֶּזה

The very existence of Israel is as near to a miracle 22 | as we will find in the sober pages of empirical history. RABBI SACKS GLOBAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS

Rabbanit Yemima Mizrachi

The Power of Loneliness

The first candle also corresponds to מצוה e’ve reached the culmi- uncharacteristically writes it is a much loved Avraham, the epitome of kindness. Be - חביבה היא עד מאד nation of the month of Kislev, whose entire nature mitzvah. kind. Light and pray for someone sit- Wis supernatural. Chanukah is above ting in the dark, someone who is suf- and beyond nature! Or better still, it fering. Prayer for others is the greatest is natural that miracles are performed kindness, and it saves the one who at this time and the Ribono Shel Olam prays from loneliness as well. answers our prayers. He wants to I once received a letter from a mother make miracles for us, with our help. who told me what she prayed for on On the eight days of Chanukah we the first night of Chanukah. In front have the ability to change decrees. of that one lonely candle she prayed Yes, Chanukah has the ability to actu- that her only child would not grow up ally overturn decrees. During normal lonely. That he should have a brother times, a decree is a decree. Actions or sister. And indeed, after much don’t help. We cannot change the heartache and effort, she and her hus- outcome. But on Chanukah, for eight band were blessed with another son. days, we have the opportunity to act On the first night, the lonely people and make the effort. G-d “moves say to the Ribono Shel Olam: “Look over” (as it were) and through our Hashem, I’ve been struggling alone intervention, desires to perform in this darkness, yearning and asking: miracles. -Where are you? I’m now light ?איכה There are even great secrets hidden in Lighting the First Candle ing a candle for You in the dark and the words of the beracha on the can- believe that my complete salvation is one“ , ֵנר ִאישׁ ּו ֵביתוֹ The first candle is ”.imminent ָּב ּרו ְך ַא ָּתה ה’ :dles. The Sephardim say candle per household.” Therefore, try ֱא ֵֹלק ּינו ֶמ ֶל ְך ָהעוֹ ָלם ֲאׁ ֶשר ִק ְ ּדׁ ָש ּנו ְּב ִמ ְצוֹ ָתיו ְו ִצָּו ּנו to at least light this candle at home. Even if the candle has already been while the Ashkenazim , ְל ַהְד ִליק ֵנר ֲחֻנָּכה Even if you are a guest somewhere extinguished, keep praying. Give lone- . ֵנר ׁ ֶשל ֲח ֻנ ָּכה :say and you don’t sleep at home, hala- liness a place in your prayer. ֶשׁל What’s the difference? One word: . chically you must light in your own According to Rav Soloveitchik, the The mystic, Rabbi Ben-Tzion Mutzafi house as well, before or after, because merits of our lonely people will bring explains the Sephardi version: the it brings blessing to your home. the light of Mashiach. Why? Because beracha contains exactly 13 words. So light and bear in mind: “I am now one small, lone candle can eradicate According to the Arizal, through invoking those days that were, those great darkness. uttering each one, we reveal one of wondrous lights from the time of the The redemption will come, writes the 13 middot haRachamim (G-d’s Chanukah miracles.” Rabbi Tzadok HaKohen of , ה’, ה’, ק-ל, ַר ּחום, , ָעַר ְכ ִּתי ֵנר ִל ְמׁ ִש ִיחי :attributes of mercy): when you understand Because in Judaism, even time is ְוַחּנּון, ֶאֶרְך ַאַּפִים, ְוַרב ֶחֶסד, ֶוֱאֶמת. ֵנֹצר ֶחֶסד “I have lit a candle for my redeemer,” .above time ָלֲאָלִפים ֵנֹשׂא ָעוֹן ָוֶפשַׁע ְוַחָּטָאה ְוַנֵּקה I have worth - ָעַר ְכ ִּתי .(He (Tehillim 135:17 . According to the Maharal, Rabbi -because even in my loneli (בעל ערך) also explains the deeper meaning of Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev and the the other customs surrounding the ness, I illuminate a dark world. Chanukah candles, like singing Maoz Chatam Sofer, the first candle is for all Tzur. the lonely people. Although customs and segulot are For anyone who feels like a lone not essential for the actual lighting, candle in the dark. For those wanting they do serve to make the mitzvah to get married. Or to think of others Rabbanit Yemima Mizrachi is a popular even more precious, as the Rambam in their loneliness and isolation. Israeli teacher, speaker and writer.

Faith is what redeems us from loneliness and humanizes the world. | 23 RABBI SACKS GLOBAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis

When is Failure a Blessing from G-d?

arashat Vayeishev provides us – guarantee that we will always be us a life in which the requests of our with details of the height of able to maintain our faith in You. heart will be answered for the good. Yosef’s success. The Torah tells G-d was Yosef was someone who maintained Here we acknowledge that we do not“ , ַו ְי ִהי ה' ֶאת יוֹ ֵסף ַו ְי ִהי ִאישׁ ַמ ְצ ִל ַיח ,Pus with Yosef and he was a successful man.” his fear of Heaven under all circum- really know what success is. While we stances – when he was in desper- might presume that something in our Why are both statements necessary? ate trouble and also when he had lives constitutes a great achievement, If G-d was with him, he must have achieved wealth and honour. That is it might ultimately lead to our down- been successful, and if he was suc- why the Torah tells us G-d was with fall. We therefore place everything in cessful, surely it was because G-d was him and he was successful. the hands of G-d and recognize that with him? sometimes what is considered to be Rav Simcha Bunim of Peshischa, one a failure might actually be the best In the midst of thing for us. of the great Chassidic masters of the our failure or late 18th and early 19th centuries, “” Yosef understood this profound explains as follows: we have a ten- disappointment, lesson. When he was failing, when dency to reach out to G-d primarily the door closed in he was a victim of attempted frat- when things are going wrong, yet we ricide and when he was thrust into should also naturally reach out to Him front of us can open prison despite being innocent, G-d when we are happy and successful. many other doors was with him. He felt the presence of In this vein, the Chafetz Chaim com- of opportunity the Almighty just as he did when he mented on our Rosh Chodesh bench- was riding on the wave of success. He ing, which we recite on the Shabbat I would like to suggest a different never lost sight of the light at the end before Rosh Chodesh. We repeat explanation. It is possible for G-d to of the tunnel. be with someone and for that person – ַחִּיים שֶׁל ִיְרַאת שָׁ ַמִים – one request Or as Winston Churchill put it, “Suc- Please, G-d, give us a life of the fear not to succeed. Because in the midst cess is going from failure to failure of Heaven. Why do we specifically of our failure or disappointment, the repeat this request? door closed in front of us can open without loss of enthusiasm.” many other doors of opportunity. An The Chafetz Chaim explained that initial setback may bring unexpected ִ י ְ ר ַ א ת שׁ ָ ַ מ ִ י ם after the first , we ask G-d blessing. give us a life – ַח ִּיים שׁ ֶ ל עשׁ ֶ ר ְו ָכבוֹ ד for of wealth and honour. However, once This too is a sentiment we express in you achieve wealth and honour, you our Rosh Chodesh benching. We con- Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis is the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the ַח ִּיים שׁ ֶ ְּי ַּמ ֵלא ה‘ ,might forget about G-d. Therefore, we clude with the request .Please G-d, give Commonwealth – ִמשׁ ְ ֲאלוֹ ת ִל ֵּב ּנו ְלטוֹ ָבה ַחִּיים שֶׁ ל ִיְרַאת שָׁ ַמִים ask Him again for

To thank G-d is to know that I do not have less because my neighbour has more. 24 | I am not less worthwhile because someone else is more successful... RABBI SACKS בס’’דGLOBAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS Mizrachi Melbourne Australia’s Leading Religious Zionist Organisation

SENIOR RABBI

After an extended term, during which we have experienced growth in daily minyanim, learning, activities and membership, Rabbi Danny Mirvis, our current Senior Rabbi, has decided to return to Israel with his family at the end of August 2021. Mizrachi Melbourne is seeking to appoint another exceptionally committed person to be its next Senior Rabbi, to build on these outstanding achievements.

Mizrachi Melbourne is centrally located in the heart of Australia’s largest Jewish Community and is the city’s preeminent Religious Zionist Organisation.

Mizrachi is dynamic and multifaceted. It embraces a range of active , daily minyanim, Leibler Yavneh College (Crèche – Year 12), the Torah MiTzion Beit Midrash and , Kosher Australia, Emunah and a vibrant youth movement. It also has direct involvement in the Melbourne .

Mizrachi is now searching for an innovative, energetic and dedicated Senior Rabbi who, together with an active and engaged Rebbetzin, will build on our impressive communal track record and further strengthen Mizrachi’s commitment to Torah learning, religious life and the State of Israel.

The successful candidate for this critical leadership position will be:

• a role model of religious observance and practice consistent with the Mizrachi ethos;

• an accomplished Torah scholar with broad secular knowledge and proven experience in deciding halachic questions;

• an outstanding leader with strong interpersonal skills;

• an effective teacher capable of engaging the community at all levels;

• able to drive communal growth with vision and imagination; and

• a passionate advocate for the State of Israel with a willingness to actively engage in communal religious and Zionist activities.

Please send your detailed cover letter and resumé outlining your qualifications and relevant professional experience to the Mizrachi President, Dr Danny Lamm AM, at [email protected] The Zionist Congress, Mizrachi and the Influence of Rabbi Sacks

by Rabbi Doron Perez Executive Chairman, World Mizrachi

he wall-to-wall unity agreement reached at the recent 38th World Zionist Congress is not some- Tthing to be taken for granted. Neither is the role World Mizrachi played in this unique achievement.

A seismic shift took place in Israel’s National Institutions at this particular Congress. For the first time in Zion- ist history, the majority of the 525 delegates from Israel and around the world were identified with the polit- ical and religious right-wing of the Zionist Movement.

This could perhaps be likened to the 1977 revolution in Israeli politics The shift in numbers was the result the Chairperson of the World Zionist when Menachem Begin rose to power of multiple factors – the size of the Organization (WZO), are affiliated after 30 years of Labor leadership. Party, the strength of Mizrachi’s with the political and religious right. Religious Zionist global representa- For the first time, Israel had a right- However, the National Institutions are wing Prime Minister and govern- tion and the joining of the new Haredi not only about influence and power ment. This gradually brought more Eretz HaKodesh delegation from politics. They are about preserving a religious and traditional elements of America, to name but three. singular and diverse balance. A very Israeli society into political leadership delicate one. One tangible sign of this new reality positions. is that the Chairperson and Deputy Let me explain. The WZO is akin to A similar phenomenon has begun in Chairperson of the powerful Keren the parliament of the Jewish people. the National Institutions. Kayemet LeYisrael (JNF Israel), and It is perhaps the only forum in which

26 | members of the political parties in Mizrachi’s Avraham Duvdevani, the bridge-building and unity, in the Israel, as well as delegates from Zion- most experienced member of the Jewish world in general and in these ist movements and Federations across WZO Executive, the Mizrachi dele- important institutions in particular. the Jewish world, are all formally rep- gation was instrumental in ensuring I cannot conclude without connect- resented in one place. unity within diversity. ing these sentiments to the recent From the progressive liberal Hatikvah Indeed, this has been Mizrachi’s role tragic passing of Rabbi Lord Jonathan slate to Eretz HaKodesh and every- since its very inception. Almost 120 Sacks, a great supporter of and part- thing in between – Reform, Conser- years ago, it was founded as a move- ner in World Mizrachi’s activities. vative and Orthodox religious streams ment of religious Jews committed Like our forefather Avraham, who and the gamut of political ideologies both to Torah and the Zionist cause. was both “a stranger and a resident” – all finding a place around one large At a time when many distanced them- among the inhabitants of Canaan, so round table dedicated to the Zionist selves from this seemingly secular Rabbi Sacks was masterfully able to endeavor. national movement, Mizrachi found personify and ever so eloquently com- a way to partner, to communicate, to municate that balance – on the one To preserve this fine balance, the bridge the gaps. To shoulder together hand being proudly Jewish and loyal Zionist Congress has traditionally to his faith and the Torah, while on the collective challenges at that time. upheld a gentlemen’s agreement, the other, being deeply immersed in giving fair representation to all parties Remaining loyal to its religious beliefs global visions, broad universal ideas based on their relative strength. This and Halacha while being an active and expansive philosophical thought. is very different from the majority and influential member of the Zionist The ability to synthesize, connect and winner-takes-all system in demo- Movement. bridge the divide. He was a ladder, cratic politics. As de Tocqueville had “whose feet were firmly on the ground warned of the potential tyranny of In fact, the very word Mizrachi is an and whose head was in the heavens.” the majority over the very significant acronym of Merkaz Ruchani, a spir- And just like Avraham, he profoundly minority. itual center, integrating core spiritual connected to Divine wisdom and values into the nucleus of the nascent to the spark of the Divine in every This year, certain parties were push- Zionist Movement. human being. To connect all of life to ing for this more polarizing and parti- its spiritual center. san approach. Mizrachi blazed a trail of unity, part- nership and inclusion. At a time of deepening ideological Enter Mizrachi. rifts and polarization – in Israel and The message was clear and refresh- worldwide – the Mizrachi mission in Over and above its impressive gains ing: there need be no contradiction general and the great life and legacy in attaining major leadership posi- between the sacred and the secu- of Rabbi Sacks are perhaps more rele- tions in the Keren Kayemet and the lar, the national and the religious, vant than ever. WZO, Mizrachi played a pivotal role the universal and the particular. in securing a wall-to-wall agreement, Between Judaism and Zionism. We hope you gain new insight and in which each party was awarded fair learn from the memories, Torah and and reasonable leadership positions So too today, Mizrachi contin- wisdom of Rabbi Sacks that we are . ְל ִע ּל ּוי ִנשׁ ְ ָמתוֹ based on their relative size. Led by ues to play this role of partnership, honored to present to you

| 27 the many faces of rabbi sacks

1 2

4

3

5 6

Rabbi Sacks the Mentor Tony Blair

ver since, at University, I became interested in politics 8 and religion at the same time and under the influence of two Australians, one an aspiring politician and the Eother a radical priest, I have always felt that religious leaders have a role to play in the small politics of a nation. Not so that they can support one party or another, but so that they can elucidate and educate the nation, to explain what it means to be a community of people with shared values, a shared spirit, 7 9 a sense of a shared future.

But it requires a religious leader of exceptional talent and Rabbi Sacks sensitivity to do it. the Global Ambassador Jonathan Sacks was undoubtedly one of the cleverest people I ever met. There was never a wasted conversation HRH Prince Charles and believe me, in political life, that is a high bar. Every time we met, as we did many times over the years, I came is immense learning spanned the sacred and the away with fresh insight and improved understanding. secular, and his prophetic voice spoke to our great- est challenges with unfailing insight and boundless Jonathan was one of my heroes. Someone I loved and Hcompassion. His wise counsel was sought and appreciated admired. His physical presence has left us far too soon but by those of all faiths and none, and he will be missed more his spiritual presence will remain with me until my own than words can say. moment of passing comes.

1. Former Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Rowan Williams 2. President Shimon Peres 3. Pope Benedict XVI 4. President Reuven Rivlin 5. The Dalai Lama 6. Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair 7. HRH Prince Charles 8. Her Majesty The Queen 28 | and Henry Grunwald OBE QC 9. Former UK Prime Minister David Cameron Rabbi Sacks Rabbi Sacks the Student the Role Model Sivan Rahav Meir

Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein s a young college student, Rabbi Sacks paid a visit to the Lubavitcher Rebbe with questions he wanted he Menorah of the Temple Sanctuary had seven to ask. The Rebbe asked Sacks questions in return. branches – a middle branch and three branches coming AHow many Jewish students were there on his college campus? out of either side of it, and their flames leaning towards What was he doing in order to involve them in Jewish life? Tthe center. The Rebbe explained to Sacks that the Jewish world was in Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch explains that the middle crisis, that ignorance was our greatest enemy. Therefore, it was branch represents the light of Torah wisdom, while the Sacks’ obligation to help, to utilize his talents in order to study other six branches represent the wisdoms of the world. The and teach Torah. Sacks eventually became the Chief Rabbi of six outer branches emerge from the central branch and then Great Britain, a professor, and a member of the British House their flames turn inward to face the central branch it came of Lords. “When we make Judaism our top priority – we lose from. nothing,” he used to say. Can all of us become professors, rabbis, and lords? No. But all of us can make full use of our tal- Rabbi Lord Sacks was a menorah. He lit up the world with ents. All of us can imagine standing opposite the Lubavitcher the Torah’s teachings by showing how all true wisdom in Rebbe and answering questions about our commitment to the world emanates from and turns toward the light of the Judaism and what we are doing about it. Divine wisdom of the Torah. Even if we will not reach his level, we cannot allow our- Rabbi Sacks was not only a great scholar. He was kind, selves to merely mourn Rabbi Sacks’ passing. All of us, each caring and giving, a true character role model for Jews of all in our own way and with our own talents, must answer the ages all around the world. call and help to fill the void created.

2

1

3 4

1. Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein 2. Rabbi Andrew Shaw and Sivan Rahav Meir 3. At a Hachnassat Sefer Torah at Kehillat Alei Tzion 4. With Bnei Akiva leaders at the Lord Sacks Forest in Jerusalem | 29 the many faces of rabbi sacks

Rabbi Sacks the Rebbe Professor Yehuda Ginosar

first knew Rabbi Sacks as Jonathan, my Mishnah teacher. I was 14, it was the mid-1970’s, and my parents had arranged for him to teach me mishnayot at home once Ior twice a week. We used to meet in my bedroom. On the wall over my desk, I had a large collection of headshots of Jewish heroes of mine, including Sharansky, Ben-Gurion, Einstein, and 1 the Lubavitcher Rebbe. At our first meeting, Rabbi Sacks expressed his amazement to see a large picture of the Rebbe on my wall and asked me if I was also a follower of the Rebbe. I told him I wasn’t but that I thought he was a Jewish hero. He told me about what the Rebbe meant to him personally and of his meetings with him, how he had brought Torah to Jews around the world who had been marginalized and who had no knowledge of their heritage.

3 Over the next two years, I was brought blinking into Rabbi Sacks’ brilliant world of Mishnah study, where rabbinic sages, halacha, tefillah and Jewish history came alive and were thrown into glorious relief, and vibrant color. Later on, he became my community rabbi until my Aliyah. In recent years, I was able to reconnect with Jonathan’s bril- liant teaching via his podcasts. I did not miss a week of “my personal tutor” since then, and this time around it gave me even greater pleasure to know that I am “sharing” him with 2 4 a global Jewish, and increasingly, non-Jewish audience. Jonathan’s loss has had such a profound personal effect on so many people who never met him, because they travelled with him to work each morning, and saved a seat for him at their Shabbat table every week.

Not since his mentor and guide, the Lubavitcher Rebbe himself, has anyone done more to bring Jewish teaching to so many Jews around the world. His probing questions and breathtaking answers were filled with poetic imagery, the lyrical range of the prophets and the astonishing truths of the great Sages of Israel. His lessons will stay with me always.

5 6

1. Rabbi zt”l 2. Senator Joe Lieberman 3. Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis 4. Gilad Shalit and Ambassador 30 | Daniel Taub; 5. Kurt Rothschild and (at left) Solly Sacks 6. With Lady Sacks at home Lighting the Chanukah Candles WITH זצ"ל Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks

As your family gathers to light the Chanukah candles, let each night be inspired by the words of Rabbi Sacks Pull out and keep! As your family gathers to light the Chanukah candles, let each night be inspired by the words of Rabbi Sacks

NIGHT 2 NIGHT 4 NIGHT 1 The Light of Inspired by The Light of the War and the NIGHT 3 Faith, We Can Spirit Never Dies Light of Peace Inside/Outside Change the World here is more than one command here’s an interesting question here is a law about Chanukah I find wenty-two centuries ago, when in Judaism to light lights. There are the commentators ask about moving and profound. Rambam T Israel was under the rule of the T T three: Shabbat candles, the havdalah T Chanukah. For eight days we light writes that “the command of Chanu- empire of Alexander the Great, candle and the Chanukah candles. lights, and each night we make the kah lights is very precious. One who one particular leader, Antiochus IV, blessing over miracles: sheasa nissim lacks the money to buy lights should The difference between them is that decided to force the pace of Helle- laAvotenu. But what was the miracle sell something, or if necessary borrow, Shabbat candles represent shalom nisation, forbidding Jews to practice of the first night? The light that should so as to be able to fulfil the mitzvah.” bayit, peace in the home. They are lit their religion and setting up in the have lasted one day lasted eight. But Temple in Jerusalem a statue of Zeus The question then arises, what if, on indoors. They are, if you like, Judaism’s that means there was something Olympus. Friday afternoon, you find yourself inner light, the light of the sanctity of miraculous about days two to eight; with only one candle? What do you marriage and the holiness of home. This was too much to bear, and a but nothing miraculous about the light it as – a Shabbat candle or a group of Jews, the Maccabees, fought first day. The Chanukah candles used to be lit Chanukah one? It can’t be both. Logic outside – outside the front door. It for their religious freedom, winning Perhaps the miracle was this, that the suggests that you should light it as a was only fear of persecution that took a stunning victory against the most Maccabees found one cruse of oil with Chanukah candle. After all, there is no the Chanukah candles back inside, powerful army of the ancient world. its seal intact, undefiled. There was law that you have to sell or borrow to and in recent times the Lubavitcher After three years they re-conquered no reason to suppose that anything light lights for Shabbat. Yet if faced Rebbe introduced the custom of light- Jerusalem, rededicated the Temple would have survived the systematic with such a choice, the law is you light ing giant menorahs in public places and relit the menorah with the one desecration the Greeks and their it as a Shabbat light. Why? to bring back the original spirit of cruse of undefiled oil they found supporters did to the Temple. Yet among the wreckage. Listen to Rambam: “The Shabbat light the day. the Maccabees searched and found takes priority because it symbolizes It was one of the most stunning mil- that one jar. Why did they search? Chanukah candles are the light Juda- shalom bayit, domestic peace. And itary achievements of the ancient Because they had faith that from ism brings to the world when we are great is peace because the entire world. It was, as we say in our the worst tragedy something would unafraid to announce our identity in Torah was given in order to make prayers, a victory of the few over the survive. The miracle of the first night public, live by our principles and fight, peace in the world.” many, the weak over the strong. It’s was that of faith itself, the faith that if necessary, for our freedom. summed up in a wonderful line from something would remain with which Consider: Chanukah commemorates As for the havdalah candle, which the prophet Zechariah: “not by might to begin again. one of the greatest military victories is always made up of several wicks nor by strength but by My spirit says in Jewish history. Yet Jewish law rules So it has always been in Jewish his- woven together, it represents the the L-rd.” The Maccabees had neither that if we can only light one candle – tory. There were times when any fusion of the two, the inner light of might nor strength, neither weapons the Shabbat light takes precedence other people would have given up Shabbat, joined to the outer light we nor numbers. But they had a double because in Judaism the greatest in despair: after the destruction of make during the six days of the week portion of the Jewish spirit that longs military victory takes second place the Temple, or the massacres of the when we go out into the world and for freedom and is prepared to fight to peace in the home. crusades, or the Spanish Expulsion, live our faith in public. for it. or the pogroms, or the Shoah. But Why did Judaism, alone among the When we live as Jews in private, Never believe that a handful of dedi- somehow Jews did not sit and weep. civilizations of the ancient world, filling our homes with the light of cated people can’t change the world. They gathered what remained, rebuilt survive? Because it valued the home the Shechina, when we live as Jews Inspired by faith, they can. The Macca- our people, and lit a light like no other more than the battlefield, marriage in public, bringing the light of hope bees did then. So can we today. in history, a light that tells us and the more than military grandeur, and chil- to others, and when we live both world of the power of the human dren more than generals. Peace in the together, then we bring light to the spirit to overcome every tragedy and home mattered to our ancestors more world. refuse to accept defeat. than the greatest military victory. There always were two ways to live From the days of Moshe and the bush So as we celebrate Chanukah, spare in a world that is often dark and full that burned and was not consumed a thought for the real victory, which of tears. We can curse the darkness to the days of the Maccabees and the was not military but spiritual. Jews or we can light a light, and as the single cruse of oil, Judaism has been were the people who valued mar- Chassidim say, a little light drives out humanity’s ner tamid, the everlast- riage, the home, and peace between much darkness. May we all help light ing light that no power on earth can husband and wife, above the highest up the world. extinguish. glory on the battlefield. In Judaism, the light of peace takes precedence over the light of war.

As your family gathers to light the Chanukah candles, let each night be inspired by the words of Rabbi Sacks

NIGHT 5 NIGHT 6 NIGHT 8 Chanukah in The First Clash The Light

Our Time of Civilizations NIGHT 7 Another Light ack in 1991, I lit Chanukah candles ne of the key phrases of our time here’s a fascinating argument in Bwith Mikhail Gorbachev, who had, Ois the clash of civilizations. And The Third Tthe . Can you take one Cha- until earlier that year, been President Chanukah is about one of the first nukah light to light another? Usually, of the Soviet Union. For 70 years, the great clashes of civilization, between Miracle of course, we take an extra light, the practice of Judaism had been effec- the Greeks and Jews of antiquity, e all know the miracles of Cha- shamash, and use it to light all the tively banned in communist Russia. Athens and Jerusalem. Wnukah, the military victory of candles. But suppose we don’t have It was one of the two great assaults the Maccabees against the Greeks, one. Can we light the first candle and The ancient Greeks produced one of on our people and faith in the 20th and the miracle of the oil that should then use it to light the others? the most remarkable civilizations of century. The Germans sought to kill have lasted one day but stayed burn- all time: philosophers like Plato and Two great sages of the third century, Jews; the Russians tried to kill Juda- ing for eight. But there was a third Aristotle, historians like Herodotus Rav and Shmuel, disagreed. Rav said ism. Under Stalin the assault became miracle not many people know about. and Thucydides, dramatists like Soph- no. Shmuel said yes. Normally we brutal. Then in 1967, after Israel’s It took place several centuries later. ocles and Aeschylus. They produced have a rule that when Rav and Shmuel victory in the Six-Day War, many art and architecture of a beauty that After the destruction of the Second disagree, the law follows Rav. There Soviet Jews sought to leave Russia has never been surpassed. Yet in the Temple, many Rabbis were convinced are only three exceptions and this is and go to Israel. Not only was per- second century before the common that Chanukah should be abolished. one. mission refused, but often the Jews era, they were defeated by the group After all, it celebrated the rededica- concerned lost their jobs and were Why did Rav say you may not take one of Jewish fighters known as the Mac- tion of the Temple. And the Temple imprisoned. Around the world Jews Chanukah candle to light the others? cabees, and from then on Greece as a was no more. It had been destroyed campaigned for the prisoners, Refuse- world power went into rapid decline, by the Romans under Titus. Without Because, says the Talmud, you dimin- niks they were called, to be released while the tiny Jewish people survived a Temple, what was there left to ish the first candle. Inevitably you spill and allowed to leave. Eventually, every exile and persecution and are celebrate? some of the wax or the oil. And Rav Mikhail Gorbachev realized that the still alive and well today. says: don’t do anything that would whole Soviet system was unworkable. The Talmud tells us that in at least diminish the light of the first. Communism had brought not free- What was the difference? The Greeks, one town, Lod, Chanukah was abol- dom and equality, but repression, a who did not believe in a single, loving ished. Yet eventually the other view But Shmuel disagrees, and the law police state, and a new hierarchy of G-d, gave the world the concept of prevailed, which is why we celebrate follows Shmuel. Why? power. In the end, it collapsed, and tragedy. We strive, we struggle, at Chanukah to this day. The best way of answering that is to Jews regained the freedom to practice times we achieve greatness, but life Why? Because though the Temple think of two Jews: both religious, both Judaism and to go to Israel. has no ultimate purpose. The universe was destroyed, Jewish hope was committed, both living Jewish lives. neither knows nor cares that we are That day in 1991 after we had lit not destroyed. We may have lost the One says: I must not get involved with here. candles together, Mr. Gorbachev building but we still had the story, and Jews who are less religious than me, asked me, through his interpreter, Ancient Israel gave the world the idea the memory, and the light. And what because if I do, my own standards what we had just done. I told him of hope. We are here because G-d cre- had happened once in the days of will fall. I’ll keep less. My light will be that 22 centuries ago in Israel after ated us in love, and through love, we the Maccabees could happen again. diminished. That’s the view of Rav. the public practice of Judaism had discover the meaning and purpose of And it was those words, od lo avdah The other says no. When I use the been banned, Jews fought for and life. Tragic cultures eventually disin- tikvateinu, “our hope is not destroyed,” flame of my faith to light a candle in won their freedom, and these lights tegrate and die. Lacking any sense of that became part of the Hatikvah, that someone else’s life, my Jewishness were the symbol of that victory. And I ultimate meaning, they lose the moral inspired Jews to return to Israel and is not diminished. It grows because continued: 70 years ago Jews suffered beliefs and habits on which continuity rebuild their ancient state. So as you there is now more Jewish light in the same loss of freedom in Russia, depends. They sacrifice happiness for light the Chanukah candles, remem- the world. When it comes to spiritual and you have now helped them to pleasure. They sell the future for the ber this. The Jewish people kept goods as opposed to material goods, regain it. So you have become part present. They lose the passion and hope alive, and hope kept the Jewish the more I share, the more I have. If I of the Chanukah story. And as the energy that brought them greatness people alive. We are the voice of hope share my knowledge, or faith, or love interpreter translated those words in the first place. That’s what hap- in the conversation of humankind. with others, I won’t have less; I may into Russian, Mikhail Gorbachev pened to Ancient Greece. blushed. The Chanukah story still even have more. That’s the view of Judaism and its culture of hope sur- lives, still inspires, telling not just us Shmuel, and that is how the law was vived, and the Chanukah lights are the but the world that though tyranny eventually decided. symbol of that survival, of Judaism’s exists, freedom, with G-d’s help, will So share your Judaism with others. refusal to jettison its values for the always win the final battle. Take the flame of your faith and help glamour and prestige of secular cul- set other souls on fire. ture, then or now. A candle of hope may seem a small thing, but on it, the very survival of a civilization may depend.

Before lighting say the following two blessings: ָמעוֹ ז ּצור ְישׁ ּו ָע ִתי ְל ָך ָנ ֶאה ְלשׁ ַ ֵּב ַח ְ ְ ָּב ּרוך ַאתָּ ה ה' ֱא ֵ־ֹלק ּינו ֶמ ֶלך ָהעוֹ ָלם תִּ ּכוֹ ן ֵּבית תְּ ִפ ָּל ִתי ְושׁ ָ ם תּ וֹ ָדה ְנ ַז ֵּב ַח ֲאשׁ ֶ ר ִק ְ ּדשׁ ָ ּנו ְּב ִמ ְצוֹ ָתיו ְו ִצָ ּו ּנו ְל ֵעת תָּ ִכין ַמ ְט ֵּב ַח ִמ ָּצר ַה ְמ ַנ ֵּב ַח ְל ַה ְד ִליק ֵנר שׁ ֶ ל ֲח ֻנ ָּכה. ָאז ֶא ְגמֹר ְּבשׁ ִ יר ִמ ְזמוֹ ר ֲח ֻנ ַּכת ַה ִּמ ְז ֵּב ַח ָּב ּרו ְך ַאתָּ ה ה' ֱא ֵ־ֹלק ּינו ֶמ ֶל ְך ָהעוֹ ָלם ָרעוֹת ָשׂ ְב ָעה ַנ ְפשׁ ִ י ְּבָיגוֹ ן ּכ ִֹחי ָּכ ָלה שׁ ֶ ָע ָשׂה ִנ ִּסים ַל ֲאבוֹ ֵת ּינו ַחַּיי ֵמְר ּרו ְּבקֹשׁ ִ י ְּבשׁ ִ ְע ּב ּוד ַמ ְל ּכות ֶע ְג ָלה ַּבָּי ִמים ָה ֵהם ַּב ְ ּז ַמן ַה ֶ ּזה. ּו ְבָידוֹ ַה ְּגדוֹ ָלה הוֹ ִציא ֶאת ַה ְּס ֻג ָּלה ֵחיל ַּפְרעֹה ְו ָכל ַזְרעוֹ ָיְר ּדו ְּכ ֶא ֶבן ְמ ּצו ָלה Before lighting for the first time, add the following: ּדביר קדשׁ וֹ הביאני וגם שׁ ם ֹלא שׁ קטתּ י ְ ְ ְ ִ ָ ְ ֱ ִ ַ ִ ְ ַ ָ ָ ַ ְ ִ ָּב ּרוך ַאתָּ ה ה' ֱא ֵ־ֹלק ּינו ֶמ ֶלך ָהעוֹ ָלם ּו ָבא נוֹ ֵגשׂ ְו ִה ְג ַל ִני ִּכי ָזִרים ָע ַב ְדתִּ י ּ שׁ ֶ ֶה ֱחָי ּנו ְו ִק ְי ָמ ּנו ְו ִה ִּג ָיע ּנו ַל ְ ּז ַמן ַה ֶ ּזה. ְוֵיין ַר ַעל ָמ ַס ְכתִּ י ִּכ ְמ ַעט שׁ ֶ ָע ַבְרתִּ י z v z ֵקץ ָּב ֶבל ְזֻר ָּב ֶבל ְל ֵקץ שׁ ִ ְב ִעים נוֹשׁ ָ ְעתִּ י ַה ֵּנרוֹ ת ַה ָּל ּלו ָ ֽא ּנו ַמ ְד ִל ִיקין ְּכרוֹת קוֹ ַמת ְּברוֹשׁ ִּב ֵּקשׁ ֲא ָג ִגי ֶּבן ַה ְּמ ָד ָתא ַעל ַה ִּנ ִּסים ְו ַעל ַה ִּנ ְפ ָלאוֹ ת ְו ִנ ְהָי ָתה לוֹ ְל ַפח ּו ְלמוֹ ֵקשׁ ְו ַג ֲאָותוֹ ִנשׁ ְ ָּב ָתה ְו ַעל ַה ְתּשׁ ּועוֹ ת ְו ַעל ַה ִּמ ְל ָחמוֹ ת רֹאשׁ ְי ִמ ִיני ִנ ֵּ ׂש ָאת ְואוֹ ֵיב שׁ ְ מוֹ ָמ ִח ָית ׁ ֶש ָע ִש ָׂית ַל ֲאבוֹ ֵת ּינו ַּבָּי ִמים ָה ֵהם ַּב ְז ַמן ַה ֶ ּזה רֹב ָּב ָניו ְו ִק ְנָי ָניו ַעל ָה ֵעץ תָּ ִל ָית ָ ַעל ְי ֵדי ּכֹ ֲה ֶניך ַה ְּקדוֹ ִשים. ְיָו ִנים ִנ ְק ְּב ּצו ָע ַלי ֲא ַזי ִּב ֵימי ַחשׁ ְ ַמ ִּנים ְו ָכל ְשמוֹ ַנת ְי ֵמי ֲח ֻנ ָּכה ּו ָפְר ּצו חוֹמוֹ ת ִמ ְג ָ ּד ַלי ְו ִט ְּמ ּאו ָּכל ַהׁ ְּש ָמ ִנים ַה ֵּנרוֹ ת ַה ָּל ּלו ֶקֹדשׁ ֵהם ּו ִמ ּנוֹ ַתר ַק ְנ ַק ִּנים ַנ ֲע ָשׂה ֵנס ַלׁ ּשוֹשׁ ַ ִּנים ְו ֵאין ָל ּנו ְרשׁ ּות ְל ִהׁ ְש ּ ַת ֵּמשׁ ָּב ֶהם ְּב ֵני ִב ָינה ְי ֵמי שׁ ְ מוֹ ָנה ָק ְב ּעו שׁ ִ יר ּוְר ָנ ִנים ֶא ָּלא ִלְראוֹ ָתם ִּב ְל ָבד. ָ ְּכ ֵדי ְלהוֹדוֹ ת ּו ְל ַה ֵלל ְלׁ ִש ְמ ָך ַה ָּגדוֹ ל ֲחשׂוֹ ף ְזרוֹ ַע ָק ְדשׁ ֶ ך ְו ָקֵרב ֵקץ ַה ְישׁ ּו ָעה ָ ַעל ִנ ֶּס ָיך ְו ַעל ִנ ְפ ְלאוֹ ֶת ָיך ְו ַעל ְישׁ ּו ָע ֶת ָך. ְנקֹם ִנ ְק ַמת ֲע ָב ֶדיך ֵמ ֻא ָּמה ָהְרשׁ ָ ָעה ִּכי ָאְר ָכה ַהׁ ָּש ָעה ְו ֵאין ֵקץ ִל ֵימי ָהָר ָעה ְ ּד ֵחה ַא ְדמוֹ ן ְּב ֵצל ַצ ְלמוֹ ן ָה ֵקם ָל ּנו רוֹ ִעים שׁ ִ ְב ָעה the many faces of rabbi sacks

Rabbi Sacks the Father Gila Sacks

e used to joke that if you bumped into my dad in the kitchen, he’d probably want you to work out how to solve global antisemitism while the Wkettle boils. But he did, because why wouldn’t he? Prob- lems are there to be solved… That’s what my dad taught us, in everything he taught, he wrote, but mainly in the things he chatted to us about while the kettle boiled. He loved us, so much, and never ever missed any opportunity 1 in recent years to tell us that. To tell us how proud he was of everything each of us did, but mainly, of who we were. Of how proud he was of each grandchild, and every new bit of joy they brought into his world. And because he loved us, each of us in different ways because we are different people, he gave us the space to become us, not him…

I will remember many things, but those two in particular: he taught us that the world is there to be challenged and that there is no such thing as an unsolvable problem, and he loved us, which meant we could become the people we are, and no child could wish for more.

(Extracted from Gila’s hesped at her father’s funeral.) 2

3 4

5 6 7

1. With his children, Josh, Dina and Gila 2. With Lady Sacks and his office team: Dan Sacker, Joanna Benarroch and Debby Ifield 3. Rabbi Dr. zt”l 4. Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz zt”l 5. Rabbi Dr. Leonard Matanky 6. Rabbi Doron Perez 7. Jonny Lipczer | 35 Eight Lessons in Rabbi Sacks’ Leadership

by Rabbi Benji Levy Chief Executive, Mosaic United

eflecting on the life of Rabbi was a true servant of the L-rd and a Sacks, I would like to share one servant of the people. lesson for each night of Chanu- kah, adding one to his ‘Seven Principles R 1 2. Leadership begins by of Jewish Leadership’ through which taking responsibility his light continues to shine: Weaving this message throughout his 1. Leadership is service teachings, and allowing it to animate the experience of learning Torah and Moshe Rabbeinu’s achievements the journey of prayer through his 3. Leadership is were vast and transformational and Koren commentaries, Rabbi Sacks vision-driven he received many titles throughout seemed obsessed with taking respon- the ages, from the greatest prophet to sibility: “When we see something Influencers usually have a platform the teacher par excellence. Yet Rabbi wrong, we can complain or we can such as heading a large institution, Sacks highlights only one label as his act. Complaining does not change the holding a significant office, leading ‘highest accolade,’ namely: “a servant world. Acting does.” a company or representing an orga- of the L-rd.” Here Rabbi Sacks reveals nization. The greater the platform, the value he sees as most important, His theology was one of practice and the louder the voice. Yet, in the last “a leader does not stand above the he did not shy away from dealing with years of Rabbi Sacks’ life – by far people. He serves the people and issues of the day, openly defending his most influential – he had none serves G-d.” Israel’s right to defend herself and of that. I know of no Jewish leader calling out antisemitism for what today that achieved close to what he I had the honor of accompanying it is, fighting those that hated any did regarding broad authority. Part Rabbi Sacks when he visited Austra- group, broadening his defense of the of what enlivened all he did was his lia and I was surprised when (in more defenseless, and indeed calling on all tremendous vision, his capacity to than one shul) he sat among us rather of humanity to make space for one invite others to share that vision and than in the special area reserved for another. He publicly debated some of of course, to deliver: “Leaders are led the Rabbi. Like Moshe, his humility his greatest philosophical detractors, by their vision of the future, and it is was real. He truly saw himself as a like Richard Dawkins, and took on this that inspires others.” mere messenger of a greater message. those that presented a real danger, like He quoted C.S. Lewis, who defined British Prime Ministerial candidate From our birth as a nation to our humility not as thinking less of your- Jeremy Corbyn. rebirth in our nation-state, our his- self but as thinking of yourself less. toric perspective always beckons Rabbi Sacks was so occupied with In short, Rabbis Sacks’ responsibility us one step further because “His- thinking about others that he thought lay in his ability to respond – some- tory does not give rise to hope; hope of himself less. And through this, he thing he did with distinction. gives rise to history.” Rabbi Sacks was

36 | an agent of hope and the vision he of survivors, after staring eyeball to 7. We are all summoned sketched will take lifetimes to fulfill. eyeball with the angel of death in to the task Auschwitz, would build and rebuild 4. The highest form of our flourishing homeland? History It is this idea that Rabbi Sacks called thus teaches that while it may seem leadership is teaching “probably the deepest Jewish truth illogical to believe in the power of of all.” While exceedingly humble, he Like most of the quotes I have shared, a people – we can and must believe was acutely aware of the task to which Rabbi Sacks could have been talking in our people. As Rabbi Sacks put it, he was summoned. He treated it with about himself when he said, “The “Faith is the defeat of probability by absolute sanctity and it was his guid- great leaders are educators, teach- possibility.” ing principle. His time was precious ing people to understand the mean- With a deep appreciation of the his- and he always stayed on task. ing of their time.” Every encounter tory of the Jewish people, he believed After seeing so many well-known and with Rabbi Sacks was a lesson, every in all of us more than we often believe less known leaders emerge in sharing phrase a teaching, every act a tutorial. in ourselves. He was the ultimate ‘text-person.’ how he inspired them, it is clear he succeeded in elevating others to make My final meaningful encounter with 6. Leaders need a sense this choice. He often said that “Good Rabbi Sacks took place around a year of timing and pace leaders create followers, great leaders ago for a few hours in his home. We create leaders.” began in his study, surrounded by When Moshe asked G-d to choose books, and then moved to his living his successor, he stated that such a room, surrounded by more books. person should “go out before them 8. Every moment And I thought to myself that the true and come in before them, lead them is an opportunity library was in his mind and his capac- out and bring them in.” Rabbi Sacks for leadership ity to catalog, categorize and curate highlighted the apparent repetition the different ideas was part of his as bringing our attention to a funda- Rabbi Sacks argued that “We are all genius. Now his own books adorn the mental truth about leadership. While called on to be leaders within our digital and physical shelves of millions one should lead from the front, one sphere of influence, be it the family, of libraries, homes and websites alike, should not go so far ahead that when the community, at work, among col- one turns around, the people are too continuing to teach us and provide leagues, or in-play among teammates.” far behind. educational companionship. In this sense, he is inviting all of us to Again, he fulfilled his own words: shoulder the responsibility of these 5. A leader must have “Leadership involves a delicate leadership lessons in our own lives in faith in the people balance between impatience and everything we do. he or she leads patience. Go too fast and people resist. Go too slow and they become May the blessings of one of contem- To paraphrase Rabbi Sacks, who complacent. Transformation takes porary Judaism’s greatest leaders stay would have thought that a group of time, often more than a single gener- strong in our memory and may his slaves, escaping from the tyranny ation.” Clearly, his influence has trans- memory be a blessing. of Egypt in the barren desert over formed the Jewish world profoundly, 2,000 years ago, could share a mes- but we are yet to see the true trans- sage that would transform the world’s formation he achieved, something 1 https://rabbisacks.org/seven-prin- ciples-of-jewish-leadership-writ- moral landscape? More recently, who the generations to come can only look ten-for-the-adam-science-foundation-lead- would have thought that a handful forward to. ership-programme/.

| 37 HOLIDAY READING

Rabbi Efrem Goldberg

Chanukah and Chinuch The Holiday of Jewish Education

hanukah is so named because Chinuch is the initiation of a person and in both, we bring greater light .or object into the trade or art for into the world , ֲח ֻנ ָּכה it commemorates the the rededication of the Beit which it is destined, as in the educa- CHaMikdash, and particularly of the tion of a youth, the dedication of the Each Child Is a Flame ִמ ְז ֵּב ַח , the altar centerpiece of the altar, or inauguration of a house. Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch points Temple which the Greeks had defiled The term chinuch is appropriate when out that the basic mitzvah of Chanu- ֵ נ ר ִא י שׁ -Maharsha to Shabbat 21b). All dedi) referring to an innate talent that a kah is as the Gemara dictates, the head of the household lights , ּו ֵביתוֹ ֲח ֻנ ַּכת such as , ֲח ֻנ ָּכה cations are called person has for a certain art, or when or in contempo- one candle and fulfills the mitzvah for , ֲ ח ֻ נ ַ ּ כ ת ַה ּ ִ מ שׁ ְ ָ ּ כ ן or ַה ִּמ ְז ֵּב ַח describing the preparation of a house rary times when we buy a new home his wife and children. However, says or object for use. a the Gemara, one does the mitzvah in ,ֲחֻנַּכת ַהַּבִית and invite people for a ֵנר dedication ceremony. It is a special word with specific defi- a mehadrin, enhanced fashion, if each person of the house , ְל ָכל ֶא ָחד ְו ֶא ָחד Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch explains nition, and it is used to describe the lights their own. -as realization of latent potential inher ֲח ֻנ ָּכה the etymology of the name deriving from the same root as the ent in a person or object. If we fail to Rav Hirsch suggests that yes, we can if we light the fire , ֵנר ִאישׁ ּו ֵביתוֹ to educate. Indeed, Rav actualize that potential, it will remain live life , ֲח נ וֹ ְך word Hirsch says, it used to be customary concealed forever. in our own hearts, inspire ourselves to spend time on Chanukah discuss- Our mission is to be mechanech, to and make sure we are warm. But the ing, strategizing and recommitting to educate the person so that he will proper thing to do, the way to accom- the importance of chinuch. become an accomplished craftsman; plish things in a mehadrin fashion, is to make sure each person in the home to prepare the house so that each We know Jewish education is import- is a burning flame, to inspire children room fulfills its intended purpose; ant, but what connection does it have to burn brightly and illuminate the or to prepare the instrument so that to Chanukah that they should share a darkness as well. name? it performs the function for which it was designed.” Chinuch Never Ends What Is Chinuch? ְמ ַה ְ ּדִרין ִמן :According to the Piaseczno, Jewish The Gemara continues is to light additional candles ַה ְּמ ַה ְ ּדִרין The Piaseczno Rebbe, Rav Kalony- education and Chanukah share the mus Kalman Shapira, defines chinuch exact same essence. Both are about each night. In chinuch, like in Cha- in the introduction to his incredi- dedication, bringing potential into nukah, you can’t light one candle ble Chovas HaTalmidim. Based on a reality, helping a person or a building and think you are done. You can’t Rashi in Bereishit 14:14, he writes, fulfill the purpose for which it exists, teach one lesson, share one value,

38 | HOLIDAY READING

Rabbi Efrem Goldberg

take advantage of one moment and The menorah is on the right side as we light a menorah in the bathroom but then become complacent. Chinuch exit our homes and head out into the then put it outside my home or on ְ to always add on, street. There, we, and our children, my dining room table, do I fulfill the ,מוֹ ִסיף ְוהוֹ ֵלך requires teach more, share more inspiration, will encounter foreign values, outside mitzvah? The Gemara concludes the mitzvah is to ,ַהְדָלָקה ָעוֹשׂה ִמְצָוה and to continue the conversation of influences, pressures of assimilation life. Our children never truly graduate and challenges to our faith. We see light, kindle and ignite a flame. This from the academy of our homes and the light of the menorah as we head is our duty with chinuch, to light the they never complete the teachings of out and remind ourselves of our duty flame in those around us. their parents. and responsibility to illuminate the world, dispel the darkness, and share Revealing What Was Inside מוֹ ִסיף ְוהוֹ ֵל ְך We must be , continue to the light of Torah. influence, inspire and motivate them Lastly, the purpose of the candles is each and every day, never allowing The Role of the Kitchen to illuminate the darkness. When we ourselves to feel too tired to trans- Table in Chinuch light the menorah, we reveal what was mit a lesson or too exhausted to take there all along and simply needed a ִּב ְז ַמן The halacha continues that advantage of a teachable moment. light to shine on it. in a time of danger, we bring ַס ָּכ ָנה On the Way in and on the Way Out the menorah inside and put it on the In chinuch, says the Piascezno, we table. are just revealing what is latent inside ֵנר ֲחֻנָּכה ִמְצָוה The Gemara continues: the child all along. We illuminate the ,I believe that similarly in chinuch ְל ַה ִּנ ָיח ּה ְּב ֶפ ַתח ֵּביתוֹ ִמ ַּב ּחוץ , the proper way for him or her and allow them to place for the menorah is just outside when it is a time of danger in which we are losing children to unhealthy break through and become the people of the home. The simple understand- they are meant to be. ing is that this placement will allow behaviors, lack of spirituality or observance and more, we need to for the greatest publicizing of the mir- Michelangelo put it best when he bring them into the home and to our acle, which is our ultimate goal. described his process of sculpting: “In tables. Nothing can substitute for the every block of marble, I see a statue But there is something deeper. We impact of spending time with our as plain as though it stood before me, are told the menorah goes on the left children and doing so around the shaped and perfect in attitude and in side so it is opposite the mezuzah and table with discussion, singing, conver- action. I have only to hew away the we are thus surrounded by mitzvot. sation, genuine interest in their lives, rough walls that imprison the lovely It is strange, however, that we would sharing of stories and divrei Torah, apparition to reveal it to the other violate our usual rule of giving defer- and a healthy exchange of ideas. eyes as mine see it.” ence to the right side in order to be Many studies have shown that drug surrounded. Why not light the meno- use among teens is inversely propor- rah right under the mezuzah and have tional to the number of nights the Rabbi Efrem Goldberg is the Rabbi of the Boca Raton (BRS), Florida. both on the right? Because right and family has dinner around the bring ,ִּבְזַמן ַסָּכָנה .left aren’t absolute directions; they are table together relative to one’s perspective. the menorah inside and to the In truth, both the mezuzah and meno- table. rah are on the “right” side of the door. Igniting the Flame The mezuzah is on the right when one walks into the home. We take the The Gemara debates ַהָּנָחה ָעוֹשׂה ִמְצָוה values that the mezuzah represents whether Is .ַהְדָלָקה ָעוֹשׂה ִמְצָוה and stands for and remind ourselves or of the unity of Hashem’s existence, the obligation to light the about loving Hashem and loving menorah, or rather to place others, and about bringing holiness a lit menorah in the proper into our lives as we enter our home. location? For example, if I

The fate of the Jews in the diaspora was, is and predictably will be, determined by their commitment to Jewish education. | 39 RABBI SACKS 8 Reasons for 8 Days stensibly, the miracle we Achai Gaon, Parashat , celebrate on Chanukah is found in a footnote to Megil- that the Jews found one lat Antiochus in Siddur Otzar Oflask containing enough pure oil The golden Menorah was ritually HaTefilot) to last for one night, and yet it kept impure. So were all the Jewish sol- the Menorah lit for eight nights. diers, having come in contact with If so, the miracle only lasted for death on the battlefield. There- seven nights. So why do we cele- fore, they were forced to make a brate eight nights of Chanukah? temporary earthenware Menorah, 1 Seven days of Chanukah com- Here are eight reasons because earthenware is more resis- tant to impurity. But earthenware memorate the miracle of the oil, is porous, and when it is new, it and one day commemorates the The first night absorbs a small but significant part miracle that a few weak Jewish sol- of any oil put in it. Therefore, one diers defeated the mighty Greek was a miracle too night’s oil for a gold Menorah was legions. (Bach; Kedushat Levi) not sufficient for an earthenware Menorah because some of the oil is lost to absorption. Hence even The Greeks ransacked the Beit the first night’s light was a mira- HaMikdash for many days in cle. (Bava Metzia 40a, Maharsha Chanukah occurred in the year search of oil to defile. Despite Chullin 55) their strength and numbers, they 3622 (139 BCE). Calendar calcula- overlooked one flask, which the tions and other historical sources few weak, battle-weary Jews found indicate that the 25th of Kislev, immediately. That was the miracle the first day of Chanukah, fell of the first day [and then the oil on Shabbat that year. Therefore, lasted for another seven]. (HaM- In one account, the text reads “and they needed to light the Menorah eiri in LeHodot UleHallel; Sefer there wasn’t enough (oil) it to burn before sunset Friday night, and HaEshkol, Chanukah 6:13) even one day...” (Sheiltot DeRav consequently needed a little more

40 | 8 Reasons for 8 Days than a night’s worth of oil for the first night. (Atzei Zayit)

The commandment to light the Menorah with pure oil is writ- The miracle was ten in the Torah ( 23-24), immediately after the command- a full eight days ment to observe Sukkot for eight days (seven days of Sukkot fol- lowed by Shemini Atzeret). The Sages saw this as a Divine hint that The Kohanim divided one night’s Chanukah should also be for eight oil into eight portions and mirac- days. (Bnei Yissaschar in the name ulously, each portion lasted a full of the Rokeach) night. (Beit Yosef, Orach Chaim 670)

Wanting the oil to last, the Kohanim made the wicks of the Menorah one-eighth of the normal thickness. Nevertheless, the flames burned just as brightly as if the 1 Research based on Sefer Ner wicks had been the normal thick- LeMeah, Rabbi Yerachmiel ness. (Chidushei HaRim) Zeltzer.

| 41 HOLIDAY READING

Rabbi Zev Leff

Beware the Dangers of Jealousy

osef’s brothers regarded him as have such long-range effects, we can the Temple to be spared out of a fear the usurper of their roles in the understand a difficult statement of there would then be no clear proof Jewish nation. So when Ya’akov the Sages. When Rebbe Yochanan he had been right. And he suspected Ysent Yosef to report on their wel- ben Zakkai’s students went to visit that his own honor – offended by the fare, they saw it as an opportunity to him on his deathbed, he began to zealots’ refusal to heed his decision – defend themselves against this threat. cry. His students asked him why he might have influenced his request. If They feared he would defame them to was weeping. He answered that if he that were true, and as a consequence, Ya’akov, and that they would be ban- were brought before a mortal king the Temple was destroyed, would he ished, just as Avraham banished Yish- who could be appeased or bribed, and not have merited eternal death? mael and Yitzchak banished Esav. whose decrees extended only as far as In their view, Yosef was a rodef, a pur- the grave, he would wail. How much It is incumbent suer who threatened both their phys- more so now he was soon to face the ical existence and eternal roles as the judgment of G-d, Who cannot be “” upon us to learn founders of the Jewish people. The appeased or bribed and Whose pun- the devastating brothers were so convinced they were ishment is eternal. effect of jealousy justified, they sat down to eat bread When Rebbe Yochanan ben Zakkai without any pangs of guilt after sell- went out to meet the Roman general ing Yosef. Their common meal was in Vespasian during the siege of Jerusa- The Talmud tells us that Rebbe effect a celebration of their unity and lem, he was allowed to make certain Yochanan ben Zakkai’s suspicions harmony now unhindered by Yosef’s requests. He asked that: (1) the San- were unfounded. He was innocent; evil designs. Even years later, when hedrin be permitted to continue in the Temple was destroyed by a Heav- they searched their pasts for any sins Yavne, (2) Rabban Gamliel be spared enly decree. Yet we can learn from that could explain a series of appar- (and hence the line of the Nesi’im be Rebbe Yochanan’s concern as to ently tragic events, they could not preserved), and (3) a doctor be pro- the power of subtle traces of honor, come up with anything other than vided to heal Rabbi Tzaddok, who had desire and jealousy in distorting one’s their failure to be more merciful. fasted 40 years to avert the destruc- decisions. tion of the Temple. Though the brothers felt fully jus- It is incumbent upon us to learn the tified, the Torah reveals to us that devastating effect of jealousy and their misperception concerning Yosef Before his death, Rebbe Yochanan ben Zakkai was beset with doubts as to hatred from the sale of Yosef, even was not simply an innocent mistake. in its subtlest forms and even in the Coloring their judgment was a slight whether he had acted properly. In his rigorous self-scrutiny, another expla- greatest of people, so we can strive to trace of jealousy. The Sages tell us that conduct ourselves in a manner befit- jealousy removes a person from the nation of why he erred came to him. He had opposed the zealots, who led ting the Jewish people, and may we world. This means, in part, it removes merit seeing the ultimate reunion of one from the world of reality and the rebellion against Rome. But the zealots had ignored his opinion and Yosef and his brothers when Mashi- causes one to view people and inci- ach ben Yosef will be sent as a harbin- dents in a distorted fashion. forced the issue by burning all of Jeru- salem’s food supplies. The destruction of Mashiach ben David. Since the brothers’ deed was tainted of the Temple and exile of the Jewish by jealousy, both they and future people was an apparent vindication of generations had to suffer the conse- Rebbe Yochanan ben Zakkai’s stance quences. Rabbeinu Yona finds an echo since the zealots could hardly claim a of the hatred of Yosef’s brothers in the Divine sanction for a policy that failed causeless hatred for which the Second so miserably. Temple was destroyed. On his deathbed, Rebbe Yochanan With this understanding of how ben Zakkai worried that perhaps Rabbi Zev Leff serves as the Rav of one imperfection in character can subconsciously he had not asked for Moshav Matityahu.

The only adequate response to the fear and hatred of 42 | difference is to honour the dignity of difference. RABBI SACKS HOLIDAY READING

Rabbi Zev Leff Rabbi Berel Wein

The Children’s Holiday

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

To be immortal all you need to do is engrave your values on the minds of your children. RABBI SACKS | 43 HOLIDAY READING

Rabbi Dov Lipman Can We Learn from the Greeks?

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

For Judaism the greatest spiritual challenge is not so much finding G-d 44 | within oneself as finding G-d within the other, the stranger. RABBI SACKS HOLIDAY READING

Rabbi Dov Lipman

There’s no place like HaRova!

With Jerusalem’s Old City as a backdrop, students at Midreshet HaRova enjoy an unparalleled setting in which to develop spiritually and intellectually. Realize your potential and reach your goals at Midreshet HaRova!

harova.org/findoutmore MIDRESHET HAROVA IS A GOLD MEMBER OF THE S. DANIEL ABRAHAM ISRAEL PROGRAM HOLIDAY READING

Rabbi Azarya Berzon

and the ChanukahSimcha Candles -engender a legal status vis ַ ל ּ ִ מ ְ ק ָ ּ ד שׁ .n his first halacha of Hilchot Cha- the candles for one’s personal benefit nukah (OC 670), the Shulchan The halachic status of the Chanukah à-vis the candle itself, but even the Aruch codifies the custom to candles is identical with that of the status of the house where the candles takes ַּב ִית abstain from engaging in labor while ner of the Menorah in the Mikdash, are lit is transformed. The I 1 in the ֵה ָיכל on the complexion of the . ָא ּסור ַּב ֲה ָנ ָאה the Chanukah candles are burning, and is therefore despite the fact there is no prohibi- Mikdash, where the Menorah was lit. מ ֹ ו ָר א ִמ ְ ק ָ ּ ד שׁ tion enjoining labor on Chanukah. This ruling would seem to indicate Hence, the obligation of ֵנר ֲחֻנ ָּכה Let us suggest an explanation for this that the mitzvah of is not only (awe for the Mikdash) applies to the ִא ּס ּור which in turn precipitates an , ַּב ִית minhag. a zecher for the miracle but also a 3. ְמ ָל ָאכה .The Rambam writes that the days of zecher for the Mikdash Chanukah were established as days The same conclusion would seem We can now understand the require- of simcha. Since we don’t know the to underlie the statement of the Rambam’s source (we only know of ment of simcha on Chanukah. Once Ramban (Commentary on the Torah, such an obligation on Purim), we the home is transformed into a Mik- beginning of Parashat Beha’alotcha): need a definition of this mitzvah of dash and one is standing in the pres- Hashem told Aharon that his obli- simcha.2 ence of Hashem, one must be in a gation to light the ner of the Meno- state of joy.4 The Gemarah (Sukkah 41a) estab- rah in the Mikdash was an eternal עֹז וחדוה ּבמקֹמוֹ ְ ֶ ְ ָ ִ ְ ! lishes an obligation incumbent upon one. It would continue even after the Chazal to establish mitzvot DeRabba- destruction of the Mikdash in the “Might and joy are in His nan that will encourage us to remem- mitzvah – incumbent upon every place” (Chronicles 1 16:27). ber the Mikdash. This is fulfilled on Jew – to light the Chanukah candles. is a continuation ֵנר ֲחֻנָּכה ,Sukkot when we take the lulav for the Apparently The Maharil includes both men and women 1 ! ֵ נ ר ַ ּב ּ ִ מ ְ ק ָ ּ ד שׁ entire holiday or during the period of the mitzvah of of Sefira when we count the days of in this custom. the Omer. One would doubt that the The obligation is not simply to 2 The Ra’avya assumes an obligation to eat a mitzvah of lighting Chanukah can- remember the Mikdash but rather to meal with bread on each day of Chanukah! 3 See Rambam, Hilchot Tefilla, 11:8. -imagine oneself as if one were stand ; ֵ ז ֶ כ ר ַל ּ ִ מ ְ ק ָ ּ ד שׁ dles could be classified as 4 See Shiurim LeZecher Abba Mori, Vol. 2, rather, the essence of the mitzvah ing in the Mikdash and one’s mitzvah pages 193-4. Just as the minhag of Yom Tov so does the ,זמן to remember and thank act is defined as a replication of the Sheini extends kedusha in ,ֵזֶכר ְלֵנס is during ner Chanuka איסור מלאכה mitzvah performed in the Mikdash. minhag of .מקום Hashem for the great miracle of the generate kedusha in lights of the Menorah. Perhaps the custom of abstaining Rabbeinu Zerachya HaLevy, in his from labor while the Chanukah can- Rabbi Azarya Berzon serves as the Rav and opening comment on the second dles are burning is an extension of Rosh Kollel of the Emek Learning Center chapter of Masechet Shabbat, explains the ruling of Rabbeinu Zerachya in Yerushalayim, and has over 7800 audio .shiurim available online ִקּיּום ֵזֶכר the prohibition of using the light of HaLevy. Not only does the

Happiness is not far away. It is here, but first we have to know how to look. 46 | RABBI SACKS HOLIDAY READING

Rabbi Azarya Berzon Rabbi Hanoch Teller Light in the Darkness

osef was a prisoner of Zion. invite the inmate for a talk. The pris- When no one was watching, he He fervently wished to leave oner will be offered coffee, tea, meat secretly slipped a part of a slice of the Soviet Union and come to or a visit to a restaurant in civilian bread or a small piece of potato into Ythe Land of Israel, a wish which for clothing. An officer from the secret his pocket. Later on, he carefully many others resulted in punishment police might tempt the prisoner with placed these scraps on a small ledge and a prison term from the Soviet a letter from his family, or by permit- in his cell and prayed that a guard authorities. ting a visit from a friend. would not notice his collection. There were hundreds of Prisoners of To earn these privileges a prisoner The day before Chanukah, Yosef Zion; brave men and women coura- merely has to be willing to inform on could barely contain his excitement. geous enough to stand up to a ruth- a cellmate or confess to a crime he So far his little gathering had gone less regime. Yosef was unusual in that never committed. unnoticed and there was only one final, critical detail to be arranged. he not only wished to live in the Land Yosef would never inform on a cell- of Israel; he tried in the most dra- mate or confess to a crime he hadn’t Trying to attract as little atten- matic way to carry out that desire. committed, so he never got any spe- tion as possible, Yosef purchased The day that he attempted to escape cial privileges. Needless to say, he was a pack of cigarettes in the prison to Israel he was arrested by the infa- denied all religious articles, as well as store, although he didn’t smoke. He mous KGB – the Soviet secret police permission to perform mitzvot. knew that packets of cigarettes were accompanied by matches, and they – and sentenced to death. Due to But the KGB, for all their terror, were the crucial missing ingredient pressure applied by free countries intimidation, and frequent punish- for his plan. all over the world, his sentence was ments, couldn’t break Yosef’s iron eventually commuted to a long and will to keep G-d’s commandments. With trembling fingers, Yosef opened harsh prison term in the horrible up the box of matches and discovered Somehow he managed to observe, in Vladimir Prison in Siberia. that there were 37 matches inside – the most primitive fashion imagin- exactly the number he needed, with The Vladimir Prison is a chilling able, whatever mitzvot he could. He one extra to serve as a shamash, for factory engaged in destroying man’s virtually risked his life not to work on the lights. spirit. Inside the prison compound, Shabbat. He refused to eat non-ko- there is no standard diet or menu. sher food and avoided chametz on Late on the first night of Chanukah, Prisoners’ rations are selected from Pesach. when everyone was sleeping and no 18 unnourishing varieties which guards were in sight, Yosef inserted vary in the number of calories from One frigid winter, a single thought the matches into his slivers of dry sub-average to starvation level. Like- managed to warm Yosef’s soul: bread and slices of potato. These wise, the amount of exercise and the holiday of Chanukah was scraps were his secret Chanukah fresh air allotted to a prisoner can approaching. menorah! range from two hours down to none. Yosef dreamed of how he would be The matches burned for only a few Contact with the outside is limited to able to observe the mitzvah of light- seconds, but they provided endless several letters a year, but this too can, ing the candles, a seemingly impossi- light and inspiration for Yosef Men- and often is, curtailed. Technically ble act under the circumstances. Cer- delevich in the depths of the Vladi- a prisoner is allowed two meetings tainly, the prison authorities would mir Prison in Siberia. a year with his family, but years can never permit it and would react Heard from Yacov Mordechai. pass without any visits at all. harshly to the very proposal of such The KGB has an elaborate and a notion. Regardless, Yosef put his remarkably pragmatic way of con- mind to the mission and developed a trolling an inmate’s body and even clever, viable scheme. his thoughts. After the initial shock Every day he saved a little bit from Rabbi Hanoch Teller, internationally-ac- of life at Vladimir has been expe- his meager rations, even though this claimed storyteller extraordinaire, is an rienced, a KGB representative will meant subsisting on next to nothing. award-winning author and producer.

It’s only the G-d of light who can defeat the darkness in the human soul. RABBI SACKS | 47 HOLIDAY READING

Rabbi Ari Z. Zivotofsky The War or the Oil?

he Chanukah story seems to be this manifest miracle of the oil? Good. mitzvah of thanking G-d, just as the predicated on two miracles – Now take notice of the huge miracle original miracle of the oil was a means the overt miracle of the oil that that I just did for you in winning the of drawing attention to the possibly Tburnt for eight days instead of one war.” overlooked Hand of G-d in the bat- and the less obvious miracle of the tles. military victory by a small group of Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Hali- priestly irregulars defeating the pro- chot Shlomo 16:9) similarly says that Common wisdom contrasts Purim fessional army of the Seleucid Greeks. the primary rabbinic enactment is with Chanukah in that the latter cele- Which are we celebrating on Chanu- to light candles to acknowledge the brates an open miracle and the former kah – the oil, the war, or both? great miracles G-d performed for a hidden miracle. It seems that in real- our ancestors in the military victory. ity, Chanukah is also about a miracle On the one hand, the liturgical texts He continues by explaining that the that was not obvious to all and G-d instituted by Chazal mention only the primary aspect of the mitzvah is that needed to direct our attention for all military victory. Thus, in Al HaNis- during the lighting, one should have to see. sim it says, “You delivered the strong in mind to praise and thank G-d for into the hands of the weak, the many the military miracles. This point takes on added significance into the hands of the few, etc.” when one notes the oil miracle It concludes with “Your chil- occurred on the 25th of Kislev, dren came to the Holy of Holies thereby confirming that a mil- of Your house, cleansed Your itary victory had already taken Temple… and kindled lights in place by that point, sufficient the Courtyard…” It mentions for the Jews to declare indepen- lighting the Menorah and yet dence and establish an annual omits the miracle of the oil. On holiday. This is remarkable the other hand, the primary considering that the war was mitzvah established by Chazal far from over and continued is lighting a menorah, with cer- for several more years. That is tain aspects modeled on the similar to the US Declaration of lighting in the Mikdash. And Independence on July 4, 1776, when the Gemara (Shabbat with the war to rage on for sev- ַמאי ֲח ּנו ָּכה 21b) famously asks , eral more years. “What is Chanukah?” it answers about the miracle of the oil. So The miracle of the oil should what are we celebrating? be a beacon telling the Jewish people In a surprising application of this, to be on the lookout for other such The Maharal explained that a miracle the Sha’ar HaTziyun (676:3) quotes occurrences. Other wars whose vic- that ‘merely’ enabled the fulfillment of the Meiri’s suggestion that a person tories only make sense if we see the a mitzvah does not warrant the estab- who will not be able to light nor Hand of G-d in them. And even if lishment of a holiday. Only a miracle see another person’s lights should those wars have not concluded with and שׁ ֶ ָ ע ָ ׂש ה ִנ ּ ִ ס י ם which provides salvation justifies or make the bracha of an everlasting peace, and the state of even necessitates annual praise and think about the miracles! Similarly, a war persists, the holiday of Chanu- thanks to G-d. If that is the case, what person for whom his family lights on kah established by our holy ancestors was the purpose of the miracle of his behalf should still think about the alerts us to the obligation to thank the oil? The Maharal suggests it was miraculous military victory. not obvious to all that the war was a G-d for those victories even as we are miraculous victory. By causing the Thus, our lighting of the candles is a still fighting on. oil to burn for eight nights, G-d was means of publicizing, to others and to Rabbi Ari Z. Zivotofsky is a Professor of providing a huge billboard that essen- ourselves, the miracle of the military Neuroscience as well as a tour guide in Ir .for the main David ֶ ה ְ כ שׁ ֵ ר ִמ ְ צ ָ ו ה tially said, “Take note – do you see victory. It is a

A blessing is an expression of the miracle of simple things. 48 | RABBI SACKS HOLIDAY READING

Dr. Deena Zimmerman

The Messages of the Name of Chanukah

are Candles are a wonderful metaphor – ה and כ – he name of the holiday can The last two letters be understood in a number of the date in Kislev on which the holi- for education. In lighting one candle the straight- day falls. The remaining letters spell from another, the fire takes hold of , ּ ְ פ שׁ ָ ט ways. The -they rested. Thus the name can the second candle, but is not dimin , ָח ּנו Tforward explanation, is that it comes from the idea of the inauguration. The also be read “they rested on the ished in the first. So too in education. Torah describes the offerings brought 25th”(Machzor Vitry Seder Chanukah When a teacher passes on knowledge by the nesi’im at the onset of the use of 259). This version of the name thus to his or her student, the student ֲח ֻנ ַּכת ַה ִּמ ְז ֵּב ַח the altar in the Mishkan as reflects the more worldly reason for gains understanding and the teacher’s (Bamidbar Chapter 7). This literal con- the celebration of Chanukah, the mir- knowledge is not diminished. nection is most likely the reason the acle of winning the battle against the offerings of the nesi’im are the Torah Syrian-Greeks and the ability to rest Prayers of thanks should also be an reading for each day of Chanukah. at the end of this battle. This reason important part of education. This can be more challenging as there is a nat- -in the sense of the dedication for Chanukah is most closely associ , ֲח ּנו ָּכה ural tendency to offer thanks if one is of a new structure, is also used in ated with the second commandment dealt the ‘ideal’ student. It is harder to context of the beginning of the use of of Chanukah, the reciting of prayers feel thanks for students who are more the Temple built by Shlomo; multiple of thanks such as Hallel and additions sacrifices were brought for the inau- of portions of thanks in the challenging. But that too is a message guration of the House of G-d by the and Birkat HaMazon. of Chanukah. The victory over the Greeks was not perfect. The battle king and all of Israel (Kings 2, 8:63). However, there is yet another word -was also performed upon raged for years after the Temple ded ֲח ּנו ָּכה A reflected in the name of Chanukah, ication and the Hasmonean Dynasty -education. This is fit , ִח ּנ ּו ְך the dedication of the Second Temple that of (Ezra 6:17) and completion of rebuild- lasted only 100 years. Yet every year ting too, as Chanukah celebrates the ing the walls of Jerusalem at the time we say Hallel for the victory we were victory of the Jews in regaining the of return from Babylon (Nechemia given at that time. So too, we should central part of Jewish education, the 12:27). This meaning of the name be thankful for all of our students and study of Torah. In the words of the is most connected to the spiritual help each of them shine their unique Rambam, Hilchot Megillah VeCha- reason for Chanukah, the rededi- light on the world. nukah Chapter 3: “At the time of the cation of the Menorah and Temple Second Temple, when the Greeks after it had been defiled by the Syri- ruled, they decreed edicts to remove an-Greek oppressors. This reason for Jews from their religion and to pre- Chanukah is most closely associated vent their involvement with Torah with one of the commandments of Chanukah, the lighting of candles. and commandments.” Therefore, the reason for the worldly battle in the The second stream of interpreta- first place was to reclaim the spiritual Dr. Deena Zimmerman is a pediatrician tion of the name separates the last world G-d had given us through the and Director of yoatzot.org, a website for two letters from the rest of the work. Torah. women’s health and halacha.

To defend a country, you need an army. But to defend humanity, you need education. RABBI SACKS | 49 THE PEOPLE AND THE LAND RAV KOOK’S TEACHINGS

Rabbi Dr. Yosef Bronstein The Jews, The Greeks and Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

hanukah celebrates Jewish rejection, they noted the beauty of In this regard, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, uniqueness. The Chash- Greek language and expression and zt”l, embodied Rav Kook’s message of monaim fought against the sought to harness these elements to Chanukah. On the one hand, he had Cinroads that Greek religion, culture better understand and teach Torah.4 a firm conviction in the uniqueness and wisdom had made amongst the of the Jewish people and of the Torah Jewish people. In this sense, their On the flipside, Chanukah teaches which he projected in his writings victory, symbolized by the small but us the value of exporting Torah ideas and talks. Simultaneously, though, steady flame of the menorah, rep- to the public square. The Talmud he practiced these positive forms of resents the fact that the eternal light relates that ideally the menorah is to engagement with the outside world of Torah will outlast all the opposing be placed outside of the house such in an optimal fashion. He was fluent outside forces. that it can light up the street.5 It is in the “Greek” of our day and used his only when the non-Jews in the thor- knowledge and eloquence to relay the If taken to the extreme, this message oughfare become antagonistic to the Torah to Jews in a contemporary and can lead to an isolationist mind- Jewish people and it becomes dan- relevant manner. And he proudly and set. One can argue that we success- gerous to light outside that we are self-confidently projected the Torah’s fully fought against the Greeks and allowed to move our menorot indoors. vision into the public square of ideas, defeated them militarily and spiritu- reaching millions of people across ally. The spoils of the war are that we Rav Kook explained that the menorah the globe and inspiring them with the can now lead our ideal Jewish lives as represents the light of Torah.6 When- Torah’s vision. This Chanukah, may “a nation that dwells alone,”1 interact- ever the non-Jewish world is receptive we too be inspired by the teachings ing as little as possible with the world to listening, we have a responsibil- and examples of Rav Kook and Rav around us. In this telling, the lesson ity to shine the light of Torah on the Sacks. of Chanukah is to disconnect and dis- issues of the day. We must be con- engage from other nations in order to fident that “[Torah] is your wisdom 1 Bamidbar 23:9. develop the pure spirit of Torah. and understanding in the eyes of the 2 Ein Aya Shabbat 2:12. nations,”7 and continue to teach and By contrast, Rav Kook developed a 3 Ein Aya Shabbat 2:5, 2:13; Orot HaKodesh 2, lead until the Torah’s light impacts page 403. more nuanced approach to the issue even the last straggler in the street. 4 Ma’amarei HaRe’iyah, page 476-477. of engagement with the outside world. 5 Shabbat 21b. Even as he forcefully highlighted the It is only when the non-Jewish public becomes hostile to the Jewish people 6 Ma’amarei HaRe’iyah, page 150-151. unique nature of the Jewish people 7 Devarim 4:6. 2 that we reluctantly bring the Torah and their Torah, his writings on 8 For similar themes, see Rav Kook’s address at Chanukah find space for a positive indoors and it becomes a private light the opening ceremonies of the Hebrew Uni- engagement with the world around for our community alone. versity (Ma’amarei HaRe’iyah, page 306-308). us. It is no coincidence that in the Land This engagement is bidirectional. On of Israel the custom of many Jews one level, we need to import the best is to light the menorah outdoors. elements and modes of expression According to Rav Kook, it is when we from the outside world into Jewish are back in our Land with our own thought and life. This process can sovereign state that we regain the bring to the fore certain aspects of self-confidence and opportunity to the Torah that were hitherto in the proudly espouse the light of Torah to backdrop and can aid in expressing the world. This is part of the messi- the timeless Torah values in a con- anic vision in which the nations of the temporary and compelling fashion.3 world will look to the Jewish people For Rav Kook, this is what Chazal as leaders of spirituality and morality, Rabbi Dr. Yosef Bronstein is a faculty sought to do with the Greek culture and as models for how to live mean- member of Michlelet Mevaseret Yerusha- 8 Background illustration of Rav Kook courtesy of www.gedolimcanvas.com Kook illustration of Rav Background of their time. Instead of a categorical ingful lives. layim and .

We need a new generation of Jews committed to the dialogue between sacred 50 | and secular if Judaism is to engage with the world and its challenges. RABBI SACKS THE PEOPLE AND THE LAND

the lax family edition TZURBA M’RABANAN

SPECIAL VOLUME: Halachot of the COVID-19 Era

A systematic and concise learning method, from the Talmudic source through modern-day halachic application AVAILABLE NOW AT WWW.TZURBAOLAMI.COM

| 51 THE PEOPLE AND THE LAND ISRAEL INSIGHT

David M. Weinberg Trump’s Mideast Innovations Should Stick

any of the outgoing Trump This might nudge Palestinians, inshal- Because Trump defiantly dumped administration’s novel lah, towards the replacement of their Obama’s signature foreign policy Mideast policies should be rejectionist leaders with men and “achievement,” incoming President Madopted by the next administration, women who seek peace and prosper- Biden (who was Obama’s vice-presi- even if Democratic leaders shrink from ity for their people in partnership with dent) surely will seek to entice Iran into crediting Trump for any breakthroughs. Israel. Younger Palestinians must know a renewed accord, and he will do so by that the Palestinian national movement lifting some sanctions against Tehran. There are three axes of Mideast policy will be marginalized in the Arab world This is probably the wrong way to go, that must not be abandoned. and in Western capitals unless they instead of increasing sanctions against The first is the unleashing of a reward- come to the table with new leadership Iran. Nevertheless, a new US adminis- ing regional dynamic whereby Arab willing to compromise. tration surely will understand that Iran states are moving to open partnership must be forced to relent on several key with Israel on a wide range of issues. For American diplomats to start once issues. Already this has led to three peace again scurrying about the region with- agreements (between Israel and the out pressing such inevitable truths on These are 1. A complete end to Iran’s UAE, Bahrain and Sudan). Additional the Palestinians would be worse than nuclear military program, including all Arab countries should be encouraged mischievous; it would be disastrous. To uranium enrichment and plutonium to follow suit. be overly solicitous of the Palestinians, a production, with no sunset. 2. A truly long-time mistake of professional peace intrusive international inspections Sustaining this momentum requires processors, would be unhelpful in the regime. 3. An end to Iran’s ballistic active American diplomacy in support extreme. missile development program. 4. A of Arab-Israel rapprochement, with retreat from bases in Syria signals coming from the highest levels Continuing to dial-down Palestinian that Iran is building to challenge Israel. in Washington and concrete offers expectations would be much more 5. Full cessation of Iranian financing of US aid on the table (yes, including constructive. No administration should of Hamas and Hezbollah military weapons). revert to stale and unworkable formu- capabilities. las based on maximalist Palestinian It also requires continuing stiff Amer- demands and minimalist regard for Short of this, a new deal with Iran will ican resolve in opposing Iran’s hege- Israeli security needs and national-his- be perilous and unsustainable. monic designs in the region and resist- toric claims. I am referring, of course, One also would hope that any admin- ing the temptation to over-prioritize the to discredited formulas involving istration will continue to back the “war Palestinian issue – as detailed below. the uprooting of settlements, Israeli between the wars” – Israel’s covert withdrawals from most of Judea and The second axis of intelligent Mideast strikes on Iranian sites in Syria and on Samaria, and a division of Jerusalem. policy over the past four years has been nuclear installations in Iran. treating Palestinians as responsible The third and perhaps most import- adults. The principles described here are in ant plank of US policy is the attempt America’s best interests as well as Isra- to truly halt Iran’s advance towards This means expecting the Palestinian el’s, and therefore they ought to survive nuclear weapons and its aggressive governments in Judea, Samaria and a presidential transition. Gaza to end their payments to terror- troublemaking across the region. There ists, disarm terrorist militias, ending should be no more American charity attempts to brand Israel a war criminal for Iranian lies, including Iran’s vague in international courts, end the teach- commitments under the JCPOA agree- ing of genocidal anti-Semitism in their ment negotiated by President Obama schools and media, and respect human and the P5+1; an agreement that took David M. Weinberg is vice president of rights, religious freedoms, and a free at face value Iranian denials of there the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and press. These are all-American princi- being any nuclear weapons program to Security, jiss.org.il. His personal site is ples; they must not be soft-pedaled. worry about. davidmweinberg.com.

Though war needs physical courage, peace needs moral courage, 52 | the courage to break with the past and turn enemies into friends. RABBI SACKS WHAT’S IN A WORD THE PEOPLE AND THE LAND

David Curwin

Illuminating Words

(mentioned in Bamidbar 33:2) ַחשׁ ְ ָמֹנה hanukah marks the conflict after the kohen who led the call for mentioned in Yehoshua) ֶ ח שׁ ְ מ ֹ ו ן between different groups living rebellion against the Greeks. But both or in Eretz Yisrael in the Second of these etymologies are assumed to 15:27). According to these theories, CTemple period. Let’s look at the words be folk etymologies. the family lived in or near one of that describe them. A more plausible explanation is that these places before moving to Modi’in (where they lived when the rebellion Yavan the name derives from the Hebrew .(hammer” and is broke out“ – ַמ ֶּק ֶבת word ּ -This Another theory connects Chash . ַמ ָק ִבים At the time, the Land was controlled reflected in the spelling ְיָו ִנים It is . ֶ ח שׁ ְ מ ֹ ו ן by the Greeks – the Yevanim, . theory claims that Matitiyahu’s monaim to the word Those Jews who identified with Greek son Yehuda was called the Makabi unclear what the word chashman culture and wished to assimilate into because he struck his enemies as with means – it appears only once, in ִמ ְתַיְּו ִנים ,it were known as mityavnim a hammer. Tehillim 68:32. Some explanations – “Hellenists.” The word Hellenist of the word do not fit a connection reflects how the Greeks themselves A third theory claims that Makabim to Chashmonaim – for example, one called their country – Hellas. The is an inaccurate translation of the scholar says it may mean horses or ַמ ְצ ִּביא Jews, however, referred to Greece Hebrew – “general, commander chariots. However, the Septuagint This name appears of an army.” Since we encounter the .ָיָון ,as Yavan in 10:2, as the fourth son word first in Greek texts, not Hebrew translates it as “ambassador” and of Yafet, and a grandson of Noah. ones, no Hebrew spelling can be con- other commentaries have “princes.” ַמ ְצ ִּביא The Talmud (Yoma 10a) identifies sidered authoritative, and so is Therefore the name Chashmonaim the other sons of Yafet with various certainly a reasonable possibility. referred to the status of the family, nations in the region but simply says The English word “macabre,” meaning and the author of Maoz Tzur picked ֲא ַזי ִּב ֵימי ַחשׁ ְ ַמ ִּנים that Yavan is according to its plain “gruesome,” actually derives from the up on this – . meaning – i.e. Greece. The word Maccabees. In the art of the Middle From this interpretation, the word Yavan is likely related to the name Ages, a certain “dance of death,” was chashman developed into the mean- of the Eastern Greeks – the Ionians. known as the “dance of Maccabees” ing of “an important person,” and The Ionians crossed the Aegean Sea because of the martyrdom of those eventually became the translation for and settled on the west coast of Asia Jews defying their Greek oppressors. the Catholic “cardinal.” Minor, in today’s Turkey. They were therefore the first Greek tribe many Chashmonaim Both terms are used in other contexts in Israel today. Chashmonaim is the nations of the Middle East encoun- While Yehuda and his brothers were name of a town in central Israel, and tered, so in addition to Hebrew, other known as Makabim, the dynasty they Maccabi is the name of a large sports – ַחשׁ ְ מוֹ ָנ ִאים languages (like Akkadian and San- founded was called the organization, a health maintenance skrit) also refer to Greeks as Ionians. the Hasmoneans. This term does not organization and a brand of beer. Makabim appear in the post-biblical Books of the Maccabees but is found in the The group that rebelled against the Talmud and other rabbinic works. Greeks and their Jewish supporters And like “makabim,” there are a were known as the Maccabees or number of theories as to the origin of Makabim in Hebrew. Makabim is chashmonaim. each , ַמ ָּק ִבים or ַמ ַּכ ִּבים either spelled One theory, as quoted by Josephus, reflecting a different etymology. The says Asmoneus was the grandfather .מכבים more common spelling today is (or great-grandfather) of Matityahu It is often explained as an acronym, and the family name derived from this ִמי ָכ ָמֹכה ,either from Shemot 15:11 ancestor. ,Who is like you among the David Curwin is a writer living in Efrat“) ָּבֵאִלם ה .Others say that Chashmonaim may and the author of the Balashon blog – ַמ ִּת ְתָי ּהו ּכ ֵֹהן ֶּבן יוֹ ָח ָנן mighty, G-d”) or “Matityahu Kohen son of Yochanan,” come from a place name – either balashon.com • [email protected].

Israel has taken an ancient language, the Hebrew of the Bible, and made it speak again. RABBI SACKS | 53 WHY DO WE GIVE Chanukah Gelt?

hanukah Gelt refers to money given as a gift during 4. In his record of the Chanukah events, Rambam writes: Chanukah. It is typically given to children and some- “The Greeks laid their hands upon the possessions of times teachers, often in conjunction with the game of Israel.” The Greeks treated the possessions of Israel in CDreidel. Gelt means “money” in Yiddish. In Hebrew it is called the same spirit in which they defiled the oil in the Beit ּ .Chanukah money). HaMikdash. They did not destroy the oil; they defiled it) ְ ּד ֵמי ֲח ֻנ ָכה But why do we give gelt during Chanukah? They did not rob the Jewish people; they attempted to infuse their possessions with Greek ideals for egotistical 1. We read in the Talmud that the Chanukah lights are and ungodly purposes rather than for holy pursuits. sacred and may not be used for any other purpose. The Chanukah gelt celebrates the freedom and mandate to example given is that one may not count money by the channel material wealth toward spiritual ends. candles’ light. Giving out Chanukah money – and not counting it near the menorah – is a reminder of the 5. According to popular legend, it is linked to the primacy of Torah, which is “more precious than gold miraculous victory of the Maccabees over the ancient and silver.”1 Greeks. To celebrate their freedom, the Chashmonaim minted national coins. It may also have begun in 2. When discussing what a poor person is to do if he does 18th-century Eastern Europe as a token of gratitude not have enough money to purchase both Chanukah toward religious teachers, similar to the custom of candles and kiddush wine, the Talmud states that tipping service people on Christmas. In 1958, the Chanukah lights take precedence, because they serve to publicize the miracle. The widespread custom of giving Bank of Israel issued commemorative coins for use as Chanukah gelt to the poor enabled them to get the Chanukah gelt. That year, the coin bore the image of the money they needed for candles without feeling shame. same menorah that appeared on Maccabean coins 2,000 years ago. shares the same root ֲח ֻנ ָּכה The Hebrew word .3 Like other oppersors of the Jewish people (such as the education. The occupying Greek forces 6. , ִח ּנ ּו ְך as were determined to force Hellenism upon the Nazis in more recent times), part of the Greek attack Jewish population, at the expense of the ideals and on the Jewish people was to take their money (See commandments of the Torah. Unfortunately, they were Rambam Chanukah 3:1). According to the Lubavitcher quite successful in their endeavor. After the Greeks Rebbe, the giving of Chanukah gelt is to celebrate this were defeated, it was necessary to re-educate the Jews part of G-d’s salvation. and reintroduce a large part of the population to Torah values. Appropriately, during Chanukah, it is customary to give gelt to children as a reward for Torah study. 1 Likutei Levi Yitzchak, Igrot, p. 358.

54 | Did you know?

• One minhag favors the fifth night of Chanukah for giving Chanukah gelt. Unlike the other nights of Cha- nukah, the fifth does not ever fall on Shabbat, hence never conflicting with the halachic injunction against handling money on the Shabbat.

• American chocolatiers of the 20th century picked up on the gift/coin concept by creating chocolate gelt. In the 1920s, Loft’s, an American candy company, pro- duced the first chocolate gelt, wrapped in gold or silver foil in mesh pouches resembling money bags.

| 55 THE PEOPLE AND THE LAND RELIGIOUS ZIONIST LEADERS

OUR SERIES ON LEADERS WHO HAVE SHAPED OVER THE LAST 150 YEARS

Rabbi Yehuda Bibas

n 1789, Yehuda Aryeh Leon Bibas By 1852, one year after his wife passed Dead Sea Scrolls were originally housed was born in Gibraltar to a Sephardic away, the 63-year-old Rabbi Bibas made in Rabbi Bibas’s library: family. One of his maternal ancestors the permanent move to the Land of “The charge that the Hebrew Scrolls Iwas Chaim ibn Attar (1696–1743) one of Israel and was welcomed by his stu- discovered sometime ago at the Dead the most prominent rabbis of the Moroc- dents in Jaffa. Sea came from looted synagogues and can Jewish community and author of the the library of Judah Bibas in the city He made his home in Chevron, where influential Or HaChaim. of Chevron, which were sacked by the he built his extensive library and was Bibas’s father came from a line of Rabbis Arabs in the bloody riots of 1929, is in Tétouan who emigrated to Gibraltar appointed supervisor of the Magen made by Prof. Solomon Zeitlin in the in 1859 after a pogrom. Bibas studied as Avot Fund, a local organization that current issue of the Jewish Quarterly a child in Gibraltar and after his father’s helped purchase property and maintain Review, published by Dropsie College.” death, he moved in with his grandfa- community institutions. “...Prof. Zeitlin, who from the beginning ther in , Italy, home to a presti- questioned the antiquity and authentic- gious and educated Jewish community. ity of the Scrolls, claims that they were It was there Bibas received his Jewish not in fact discovered in caves near the education, became a doctor and gained Dead Sea by Bedouins, but were stolen fluency in English, Italian, Spanish and by Arabs in the Chevron massacres and Hebrew. He then returned to Gibraltar then hidden for many years before being where he established himself as head produced as new finds. He points out of a local yeshiva, attended by students that for the last few years many of the from England, Italy and North Africa. Torah Scrolls which were stolen from In 1810 he came to London, England, Chevron were offered for sale by men where he met with the famous Jewish connected with the Syrian Convent who activist and philanthropist Sir also bought the Dead Sea Scrolls from Montefiore. The two later collaborated an Arab.” on many projects, Montefiore also We will never know whether Rabbi being a staunch advocate of strengthen- Bibas knew he was in possession of one ing the Jewish population of the Land of of the world’s most important ancient Israel. documents. However, the ransacking In 1831, Bibas was appointed Chief of his precious library and the selling of Rabbi of Corfu, Greece. Jewish holy texts was not nearly as rep- By 1839, Bibas was well on his path of rehensible as the razing of the cemetery activism on behalf of uniting World and desecration of his final resting place Jewry regarding the Land of Israel. It by the Jordanians who controlled Chev- could be considered the beginning of After years of advocacy work on behalf ron from 1948–1967. the Zionist Movement, proto-Zion- of the Jewish homeland, Rabbi Bibas Today, Rabbi Bibas’s legacy is in the phi- ism. The Land of Israel at the time was died only two months after arriving in losophy of the Jewish right to self-deter- ruled by the Ottoman Empire, based Israel and was buried in the Old Jewish mination and a return to the ancestral in Turkey, which was not always hos- Cemetery in Chevron, near the graves homeland based on religious precepts pitable to the indigenous Jewish com- of many other great Jewish sages. and national aspirations. These con- munity. Inspired by a series of Serbian cepts were revolutionary at the time His vast collection of rare books was and Greek revolts against the Ottoman but went on to influence the creation of donated to local yeshivot. Turks, Rabbi Bibas advocated mass a thriving Jewish State that today is at repatriation of Jews to Israel. In 1839, According to a brief article from the the forefront of high-tech, environmen- he embarked upon a tour of European Jewish Telegraphic Agency dated Octo- tal and medical fields, and a haven for Jewish communities to advocate aliyah. ber 23, 1952, the now world- renowned seekers of spirituality. 

Israel is the only place in the world where Jews can create a society, 56 | and that is a religious task even though Israel is a secular state. RABBI SACKS NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS THE PEOPLE AND THE LAND

Gael Grunewald

To Ignite the Candle Within

hanukah is a holiday of oppo- – enthused, alive, ebullient. ‘Placing’ The response to these dangers is sites and contradictions – the symbolizes the soul opting for rest, the mitzvah. The mitzvah separates few against the many, the settling, routine. the wheat from the chaff and the Cimpure versus the pure, light and dark. meaningful from the meaningless, The mitzvot of the chag are also deli- And so Rav Levi Yitzchak explains the ensuring that our passions and cately balanced in “no-man’s land” – not debate. Those who say that lighting yearnings are channeled into the placing the chanukiah too high or too makes the mitzvah mean that ideally a scared. Likewise, the world of mitzvot low, lighting at the interface of day and person should fulfil the mitzvah with gives substance to that enthusiasm, night, between the house and the street. burning enthusiasm, and those who holding it, preserving it and able to hold that ‘placing makes the mitzvah’ ignite it again and again. It is the Throughout the discussions in the acknowledge those moments in our mitzvot that connect enthusiasm to Gemara, we come across the debate lives that we just cannot enlist our the world of eternity. about whether it’s “the lighting that soul to be aroused by the ‘lighting,’ yet makes the mitzvah” or “the placing even then we should not forego the Connecting Opposites that makes the mitzvah.” mitzvah and observe it if only by rote. There is a value to drab persistence, to Thus, Chanukah also represents the In other words, if a person first lights tension between static and dynamic. the chanukiah in a place where he habit, to fulfilling mitzvot in a routine way. does not fulfil the mitzvah, and only This tension is enmeshed in all afterwards places it in his window or Rav Levi Yitzchak is describing one aspects of our lives – in prayer, in our at the door, is he considered to have of the fundamentals of Chassidut: relationships, in parenting and in our fulfilled the mitzvah or not? If we say observing mitzvot through professional lives. We cannot keep the lighting is the determining factor, enthusiasm and a love of G-d. This things burning bright for too long then no, but if we say the placement is was the great message of Chassidism, and it is also impossible to remain too what counts, then as soon as he places created to breathe new life into what long in a debilitating routine without the lit chanukiah in the right place, he had become a dormant, routine- the occasional burst of enthusiasm. has fulfilled the mitzvah. style Judaism. To emphasize passion Chanukah teaches us the middle path. In a similar vein, if the candles burn for mitzvot and love of G-d over out before their full time, do we mechanical ritual. The family stands together at a need to relight them or not? If it’s juncture in time that is neither the lighting that counts, then we’ve The Dangers of Enthusiasm night nor day, in a place that is not already fulfilled the mitzvah and there really inside the house yet not really Nevertheless, there is danger in the is no need to light again. But if it’s the outside, and lights a small light that ecstatic spiritual experience. Rav Levi placement that counts, we haven’t illuminates a world of darkness. Yitzchak notes the tension between fulfilled the mitzvah until the lights the lighting and the placing, between The Chanukah lights are beacons by burn in the right place for their full breaking out of one’s comfort zone which we can walk safely in a world allotted time, hence we would have to full of opposites and contradictions. light the candles again. and remaining in routine. He cites three particular dangers: i) the escape Lights that ignite the flames of desire and enthusiasm within eternity. Excitement Versus Rote from routine is fast and knows no limits, and hence can spill over into (Based on an article by Rav Itamar Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev meaningless matters. ii) since it is Elad.) addresses these debates in the momentary, it passes quickly and Gemara and explains that the root cannot be maintained over time. of the differences in opinion is And iii) “sparks are not real,” i.e. raw Gael Grunewald is Deputy Chairman manifested in two ‘movements’ of the enthusiasm has no existence in and of the WZO and Head of its Education soul: lighting and placing. ‘Lighting’ of itself. It always needs something to Department. He is one of World Mizrachi’s symbolizes the soul’s full engagement ignite it. representatives in the National Institutions.

Jewish faith is about courage, endurance and the capacity to hold fast to ideals even when they are ignored by others. | 57 RABBI SACKS PLACES IN ISRAEL

THE PEOPLE AND THE LAND SOCIAL COMMENTARY

Rabbi Chaim Navon What Would Washington Think Today? and more watered down, diluted. For denies many citizens the choice of example, declared that which school to send their children Chanukah is the “holiday of religious to. The latter outrages me a lot more freedom,” which teaches the right than the former since education is a to liberty of religion, and the fable lot more important than snail mail. of Washington and the candle tends Educational freedom is important to be interpreted in that spirit today. to me because education is import- Less “G-d of Israel,” more abstract ant to me, and freedom of religion is rights. important only because religion itself is important. In the Hebrew Wikipedia, the entry “Chanukah” displayed the following If we erase our G-d and our Avodat strange sentence: “The main mes- Hashem, our joy and our awe, the sage of Chanukah is the triumph of Temple and the Altar, from the values freedom of religious worship.” Really? of Chanukah, what will remain from Did Matityahu ever hear of this? After this beloved holiday? Freedom of reli- n December 1777, General George all, this elderly Kohen from Modi’in gion will become about as important Washington and his soldiers fear- called out, “Whoever is zealous for as freedom of mail. And ultimately, fully fled from the British Army to the Torah and keeps the covenant, freedom of religion will also dissolve, IValley Forge. On Christmas Eve, Wash- follow me!” Or, in the popular version, because people tend not to fight for ington walked among his exhausted “Whoever is for Hashem, follow me!” things that are unimportant to them. He did not say, “Whoever .( ִמי ַלה' ֵא ָלי) -soldiers, who were hungry and shiv ering from cold. Next to one of the is for freedom of religion, follow me.” For me, religion is a higher value, and therefore religious freedom is a higher tents, he saw a soldier lighting a candle I understand why gentiles looking for necessity. I’m not a relativist, because and whispering a few words, tears in inspiration in the holiday of Chanu- his eyes. Washington asked, “Why are kah would find more universal values I believe there is truth in the world. you crying?” The soldier replied, “I am in it. That’s legitimate, even desirable. I’m not a pluralist, because I don’t not crying. I am a Jew, and I just lit There are truly messages like this in believe in multiple truths. But I am Chanukah candles. I prayed that the all of our holidays. But when we exag- tolerant because I believe there is no G-d of Israel, who gave strength to the gerate in diluting the original Jewish other way to live in our diverse and Maccabees to defeat their evil enemies, values in the holiday, we get a homeo- complex society today. If everyone will give us strength too to defeat our pathic medicine which is 100 percent tried to force their values on others, enemies. We will triumph.” Washington water. On Chanukah, we want olive our lives would turn to Gehenom. We returned to his tent with vigorous steps, oil, not refined water. simply have no other choice. a new light in his eyes. George Washington himself was a Freedom of the individual is the only This famous story ties the ancient deeply religious man, and through his possible institution for shared exis- nation of Israel, which has a very st religious beliefs, he also valued reli- tence in the 21 century. When it young country, with the nascent gious freedom. But if we turn religion begins to falter, our shared existence American nation, one of the oldest itself into an insignificant trifle, what is in danger. But all of that is not con- countries in the world. It is exciting importance can there be to freedom nected to Chanukah. Religious free- and heartwarming to see how our of religion? dom is not a slogan but an essential, own holiday touches the hearts of life-affirming need. others as well. No one knows exactly I am largely in favor of freedom. Yet what that soldier said, and how the importance of freedom depends exactly Washington remembered on the question of what it comes to it. When I read different versions of protect. Israel denies most of its cit- this story, it seems to me that, over izens the freedom to decide which Rabbi Chaim Navon is a renowned author changing times, it has become more postal service they want to use. It also and educator.

Freedom is lost when it is taken for granted. 58 | We have taken ours for granted for too long. RABBI SACKS THE PEOPLE AND THE LAND Write it Down... Before it’s Too Late

If you don’t write down your parents’ stories, they’ll be forgotten in a generation or two.

 Don’t know where to start?  No time?  Can’t get around to it? Let me do the work for you!

“I never knew so much work went into writing a book but now I know. Hours on hours of “These untold secrets interviews but Danny have monumental “Working with Danny knew exactly what to say significance to me and Verbov was a great and how long to speak my family and have had source of joy and fun. to him... thank you so a huge impact on our His sensitivity and much!” understanding of my humor enhanced our mother’s difficult war s.k. working relationship netanya experiences.” and most importantly resulted in a book I am truly proud of.” evelyn nuszen jerusalem sandy collins london

To honor, preserve and celebrate your parents’ lives through a beautiful family legacy book, contact Danny Verbov at [email protected] or call +972-52-3115682 www.dannyverbov.com GENERAL INTEREST PARENTING & RELATIONSHIPS

Dr. David S Ribner

Preparing our Children for Marriage

ur tradition has long directed large part dependent on feeling making assumptions) helps to us to the realization that rais- accepted by others just as you avoid and resolve conflicts. ing children involves much are, without expectation of fun- Omore than providing for their physical damental change. This in turn • Expressing acknowledgment and gratitude – For both the expected needs. enhances a sense of trust that and unexpected, expressions of openness and honesty, sharing Preparing our children for their vari- appreciation and thankfulness uncertainties and vulnerabilities, ous roles as adults begins the moment can minimize feelings of being will be treated with respect. we bring them into this world. Every taken for granted. Creating such human interaction affords these • Caring and affection – These are a positive atmosphere contributes newborns the opportunity to learn emotions which express connect- to the security of being seen and numerous cues, responses and behav- edness and should be pervasive valued. iors. As children move along develop- aspects of family relationships. • Acts of kindness – Each family mentally, an initial and later ongoing People may communicate these member should consider doing source of these lessons focuses on the feelings differently, some more dynamic they perceive between their more than just fulfilling minimal verbally, some more action-ori- parents. As mothers and fathers, we expectations and to do so as a ented. No matter how you do it, are not always tuned in to the extent gesture of good will. The goal is the result is strengthened rela- our marital interactions form a tem- to make the lives of others that tional bonds. plate for the expectations our children much happier and each of these will have of themselves as future mar- • Open communication – Verbal acts conveys a message of invest- ital partners. communication should be clear ing in emotional intimacy. Since we doubtless would like to see and unambiguous, intended to • Mechanisms for healing and them married, and happily so, which convey messages that are as pos- repair – All families confront relational elements would we ideally itive as possible. Assumptions difficult moments, when expec- prefer them to glean from growing about another’s thought or feeling tations are not met or when up in our homes? While there is no must be confirmed verbally – no communication fails. Developing one formula for a successful marital one reads minds. When disagree- mechanisms to positively cope relationship, our focus here will be on ments arise, neither side should with these situations avoids accu- modeling the skills of intimacy. We imply rejection or devaluing. mulating emotional scar tissue suggest that the following list provides and allows for strengthening • Curiosity – Truly being interested a framework that may enhance our family ties. in the lives of those around you, awareness of a crucial aspect of hus- in their experiences, thoughts band/wife modeling and parent/child • Independent growth and devel- interactions: and feelings allows you to stay opment – Each family member attuned to each other. Curiosity should be encouraged and sup- • Trust and acceptance – Comfort about your family members’ reac- ported to pursue personally in familial relationships is to a tions and behaviors (rather than important interests, career paths

60 | PARENTING & RELATIONSHIPS GENERAL INTEREST

Dr. David S Ribner

and moments in which to invest In addition, some parents may have religious, the social, the emo- time and energy. Personal satis- fallen into a sense of complacency, tional and the physical. faction allows for giving others assuming they are exempt from this significant parallel opportunities. responsibility, naively and incorrectly • If your child refuses to talk with assuming that this knowledge gap will you, try this, “It’s my job and • Self-awareness – Gradually know- be filled by school-based programs important to me that I share this ing and understanding oneself or premarital madrichim. When we information. We don’t have to cognitively and emotionally mark abrogate this parental task, we risk discuss it now, but you need to various stages of maturity into children becoming confused and listen.” adulthood. Mastering this pro- poorly educated. cess further grants each family • One final point, if the first con- member greater insight into the As with emotional intimacy, we share versation you have with your chil- here some guidelines to assist par- lives of others, their hopes, expec- dren about physical intimacy is ents in discussing the physical side of tations, fears and doubts. when you discover they have seen marriage: inappropriate Internet content, Every family’s journey is different and • Our sense of sexuality is much you have not fulfilled your paren- each journey requires adaptation to more than biology or physiology. tal responsibility. life’s changes and challenges, with It includes how we and the world This is by no means an easy task, and a primary goal being preparing our around us see ourselves and each to the detriment of our children and children for intimate relationships. other, and how we determine and their development as healthy mar- Our focus above has been on the respond to gender roles. elements of emotional intimacy, but ital partners, few parents enter this we should feel equally tasked with • Make sure you are both on the unnecessarily feared realm with grace preparing our children for physical same page and are clear about and confidence. Perhaps the follow- intimacy as well. These two facets of your own values and expectations ing excerpt may somewhat ease these adult, marital intimacy – emotional before talking with your kids. hesitations: and physical – clearly cannot exist as • In this world of unrelenting con- “There are young people who do not separate realms and thus both require founding media inputs, parents know how to observe the mitzvah of our active guidance as parents. must be proactive to counter Onah (marital relations)… because, to misinformation and unhealthy As a general approach, we should note our great sorrow and distress, in our messages. We are our children’s that the core values and behavioral time the inner bonds between father cultural interpreters, and if par- expectations that guide our day-to- and son, and mother and daughter, ents are silent, children will not day interactions have equal applica- have been sundered… matters of inti- develop the values they need to macy and knowledge of the private tion in the bedroom. Making space make responsible decisions. for others in our lives, respecting matters that transpire between hus- boundaries, sensitivity, supporting • Stop talking in code or meta- band and wife… in previous gener- each other’s individuality and seeking phors. Children are naturally ations were transmitted from father to develop together are all qualities curious and need accurate defi- to son and from mother to daugh- which enhance a future couple’s inti- nitions, facts and guidance. Be ter with love… (Sefer Kedushah, as mate life just as much as they enhance aware that your language conveys quoted in Marital Intimacy by A.P. our communal and familial fabric. values and judgment. Friedman)

An initial issue of course is parental • Parents need to define and set I am grateful to Talli Y. Rosenbaum for comfort level. Well-meaning parents adequate, reasonable limits. her editorial and content suggestions. may hesitate to raise issues with their Limits are essential to a child’s sense of security, and be pre- children regarding physical intimacy pared for adjustments as children due to embarrassment, anxiety about Dr. David S Ribner, a certified intimacy ther- mature. apist, earned his Smicha and MSW degree the response of their children (who from Yeshiva University and his doctorate all are certain their parents know less • Messages about marital intimacy from Columbia University. His latest book, than they do), feeling uncertain in must also include emphasis on co-authored with Talli Rosenbaum, is “I Am a rapidly changing world or simply the broader relationship context, For My Beloved: a guide to enhanced inti- lacking communication tools. a context which includes the macy for married couples.”

Marriage is a journey across an unknown land with nothing to protect you from the elements except one another. | 61 RABBI SACKS GENERAL INTEREST

Rabbi Yuval Cherlow

The Greatest Loss

any of us are familiar with harmony among the peoples who This painful transformation is the the well-known prophecy visited Yerushalayim, we know that basis for the 10th of Tevet. The day that the Torah and the word just the opposite ensued. Under the it became clear the original proph- Mof G-d will come from the holy city leadership of King Nebuchadnezzar, ecy had not come true and proof that of Yerushalayim. This is of course a the Babylonian army arrived in the the Jewish people had lost their way. remarkable vision unique to the spiri- city with the goal of conquering it and The very essence of Jewish existence, tual and physical capital of Judaism. In removing it from Jewish control. They predicated upon ethics and morality, discussing the prophecy, Rav Kook asks had little interest in learning the word was no longer what defined us. us to pay attention not only to what it of Torah or G-d but were intent only It would take many more years for us includes but also to what it lacks. on destruction and murder. to have the chance to regain our iden- Specifically, if we compare the proph- This is one of the main tragedies we tity and rebuild. ecy to what we have come to expect mark on the fast of the 10th of Tevet, So while we have been blessed to from other religions, we see there is because it was the point when this rebuild and in many ways restore this no call to action that requires us to remarkable prophecy was proven critical aspect of our national identity, defend Yerushalayim or to enforce its false. holiness upon others. history demands that we remind our- Why though? What did the Jewish selves of how we strayed in the past. The dream we foresaw for Yerusha- people do to deserve their prophecy For while our history is defined by so layim was that all peoples of faith of peace becoming one of hatred and many tragedies and destructions, the would naturally recognize the city’s persecution? greatest loss we have ever been forced sanctity and respect it as such. There to endure is the loss of the correct would always be a global thirst for the As with so many times in Jewish spiritual path. holiness and the messages to emerge history, the answer lies in what we from the city. For generations, this as a people did with the gifts G-d prophecy would hold true and the bestowed upon us. A city slated to be hope was that the city would remain a one of justice, morality, charity and place of peace attracting and welcom- respect, had strayed so far from those ing others into its gates. And indeed, ideals. over hundreds of years, Yerushalayim welcomed peoples of many faiths and And once the city had abandoned its backgrounds. identity as a city of justice, it was no Rabbi Yuval Cherlow is a longer a place where the pain of the and a founding member of an organization However, while the prophecy cer- impoverished was prioritized. Crime devoted to bridging the religious-secular tainly intended a vision of peace and and evil prevailed. divide in Israel.

The Jewish way is to rescue hope from tragedy. 62 | RABBI SACKS GENERAL INTEREST HaMizrachi Rabbi Yuval Cherlow Family Page

FAMILY PAGE

After you and your family light candles, take a few minutes to test your logical reasoning with these four light-themed logic puzzles:

1. Give me food, and I will live. Give me water, and I will die. What am I? 2. You have two candles. Each will burn for exactly one hour. How can you use these two candles to measure 45 minutes? 3. There are three light switches outside a room, labeled 1,2 and 3. The door to the room is closed and you can’t see in. All three switches are off. You need to figure out which switch belongs to which bulb. You can use the switches however you want to, but can only enter the room once. How do you do it?

4. I can only live where there is light, but I die if the light shines on me. What am I?

A shadow. A 4.

Answers it. touch didn’t you because #3 switch with goes cold and off that’s bulb The #1 because you turned it on. Another bulb will be hot. You’ll know that goes with switch #2 because it was on for a little while. while. little a for on was it because #2 switch with goes that know You’ll hot. be will bulb Another on. it turned you because #1

a few minutes, and then turn it off again. When you enter the room, one light bulb will be on. You’ll know it goes with switch switch with goes it know You’ll on. be will bulb light one room, the enter you When again. off it turn then and minutes, few a

Turn on the first switch and leave it on. Turn on the second switch for for switch second the on Turn on. it leave and switch first the on Turn 3. minutes. 30+15=45 for them burn to managed you so

out while the other one will be half burned. Now light up the other end of the half-burned candle. That will last for 15 minutes, minutes, 15 for last will That candle. half-burned the of end other the up light Now burned. half be will one other the while out

Light one candle from both ends and the other one from one end. After 30 minutes the first candle will have burned burned have will candle first the minutes 30 After end. one from one other the and ends both from candle one Light 2. Fire. 1.

| 63 Distributed across the Anglo-Israel communities from the North to the South, HaMizrachi is the leading Torah magazine for the holidays Advertise in HaMizrachi 10 EDITIONS A YEAR LONG SHELF LIFE 40,000+ READERS IN ISRAEL ALONE

Looking to expand abroad? HaMizrachi is also distributed in the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia, South Africa, Germany, Holland, Sweden, Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico and Brazil, with over 350,000 readers. Options available to advertise in each country at a separate rate

Upcoming deadlines for the Israel edition: Ads for the Tu BiShvat edition due by January 17, 2021 Ads for the Purim edition due by February 14, 2021 Ads for the Pesach edition due by March 14, 2021

Reserve your page today! Email: [email protected] for more information