GLOBAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS

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. . Hence they decreed a ban against Hence the Maccabean victory over , 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, Miketz 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 , the 6 Devarim 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 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