Why we celebrate one miracle, and the other... not so much

I learned two things about Hanuka today. First, from Rabbi Yitzchak Breitowitz - by way of Arlene in Israel - 

... there are two very different reasons offered for the celebration of Chanukah. 

One is that the Jewish traditionalists, the Hasmonians or Macabees, defended Judaism against the Greeks, who controlled Judea and, with it, Jerusalem.  The Hellenists threatened the Jews with cultural assimilation and set about depriving them of their right to practice their religion.  The Hasmonians re-took the Temple, which had been defiled by the Greeks, and rededicated it (chanukah = dedication); they drove out the Greeks and established a period of Jewish independence in the land. 

The other is that when the Temple was rededicated there was only enough pure oil to light the Menorah for one day, and yet it burned for eight days.  This was a miracle.

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Says Rabbi Breitowitz, the common impression is that the miracle of the oil took place at the end of the battle with the Greeks, which is when the Temple was secured.  But historically this was not the case.  The Temple, with some area of Jerusalem around it, was re-taken early in the battle -- it was, in essence, a beachhead. But the fight against the Greeks that succeeded in driving them out took 25 years.

 

Who knew?!

The other is related, but different. I had always wondered why we don't focus more on the military victory which was in and of itself, a miracle.  Eliyahu Kitov explains in The Book of Our Heritage, in a section called, "Why the Talmud recounts only the miracle of the oil."

... one of the reasons that the fesitval of chanukah was establish... is to commemorate the miraculous victory over the Greeks.  This victory is mentioned explicity in Megillas Ta'anis, a work which predates both the Mishnah and the Talmud.  Yet the Talmud itself (Shabbos 21b) refers on to the miracle of the oil.

The Sages of later generations offer numerous explanations. At the time that the events took place - during the period of the Hasmoneans - the essential celebration was based on the military victory.  This victory brought about the destruction of the wicked and the abrogation of their decrees prohibiting the observance of Shabbos, the sanctification of the months (upon which all of the festivals depended), and circumcision.  In later generations, however, the essential celebration was based on the miracle of the oil and not the military victory, for the Hasomonean dynasty ended, even during the period of the Beis ha-Mikdash.  Later the Sanctuary was destroyed and the Jews became subjugated to the nations again.  The impression of the miracle of the oil, however, endures forever....

.... It is this miracle alone which endures through the generations and which finds expression in every age [while] Not every generation is deemed worthy of military success....

 

A sobering thought.

 

And now, if you're still with me, you get a treat. Jackie Mason in December 2007.

 

 

Comments

[D]

Chanukah Sameach to you and all the family, Love, herb glatter

[Yael]

And... l'Chaim, if you catch my drift.

[freelance writers]

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[Russian women agency]

Says Rabbi Breitowitz, the common impression is that the miracle of the oil took place at the end of the battle with the Greeks, which is when the Temple was secured.