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Ari Abramowitz and Jeremy Gimpel , commander and soldier in the IDF reserves, are the founders of "Shema Israel - A Light unto the Nations," an organization dedicated to strengthening the emotional and spiritual connection of people around the world to The Land of Israel.
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By Ari Abramowitz and Jeremy Gimpel
December 18, 2006
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Although Chanukah is often referred to as "The Festival of Lights", if we were merely commemorating long-lasting oil, any falafel stand in Israel would serve as a sufficient memorial. In fact, in the distinctive Jewish Chanukah prayer, Al HaNisim, the miraculous oil isn't even mentioned! The true miracle of Chanukah was the victory of the vastly outnumbered Maccabee warriors over the world superpower Syrian Greeks and their philosophical and spiritual counterparts, the Hellenists.
For years the people of Judea had been oppressed physically and politically by Greece. An independent Jewish state had not existed for decades and yet the Jews did not rise in revolt. Only when the Greek tyranny extended from political to religious suppression did the insurgency begin. It was not mere liberty that led to the Maccabean uprising in 165 B.C, it was the Jewish battle for spiritual survival; the right to observe the Sabbath, follow the laws of Kashrut, and live a Torah life.
For 25 years the Maccabees fought with inspiring and tenacious resolve and, finally, the priestly family and several thousand men defeated the Greek empire. This year we celebrate chanukah in the Jewish year 5767, exactly 40 years since the reunification of Jerusalem in the Six Day War. In 1967, the world witnessed the greatest miracle of the last two millennia. In less than a week, an infinitesimal Jewish army defeated the entire Arab world, liberating Judea, Samaria, Gaza and the Golan Heights. In three days we conquered our ancient capital of Jerusalem and ascended to the Temple Mount as a free people in our Land for the first time since the second exile.
It seems like just yesterday when we joyously sat in our booths, on the holiday of Sukkot (The Feast of Tabernacles). On Sukkot, we remember the clouds of glory which protected us from the elements and the enemies of the desert when we were completely vulnerable and totally dependent. Sukkot is the holiday that helps us see through the illusions of security and strength, recognizing that our faith must always be with G-d. Chanukah is the holiday that teaches us that our faith is not to be relegated to the realm of abstraction and irrelevance but rather to be acted upon and lived.
The Maccabees had no feasible chance of winning the war against Greece. Not only was Israel dwarfed by the Greek Empire, but only a small remnant of Jews revolted under the command of Judah Maccabee and his "radical" militia. These were Jews of zealous faith who risked their lives for their beliefs. With deliberate calculation the Greeks banned circumcision, the fundamental covenant between the Jewish people and G-d, making it a capital offence. This group of Priestly Torah scholars understood that any nation that sought to destroy the Jewish people, physically or spiritually, must be overthrown without thought given to "strategic" or "practical" considerations.
Throughout Jewish history we see that G-d does not grant us victory when we are more numerous than our foes but rather when we are outnumbered with the "odds" against us. When the Jewish people miraculously overcome our enemies it is a greater sanctification of G-d's name than a victory credited to objective military superiority. In Chapter 7 of Judges, G-d explicitly orchestrated the reduction of the Jewish army to three hundred soldiers which proceeded to devastate the Midianite army of 135,000. Those chosen soldiers were not unique in their physical prowess or knowledge or warfare, but rather for their fear of G-d and aversion to idolatry and the other practices of the nations of those times.
To the Jew, the menorah is the vehicle we use to publicize the miracle of Chanukah, a commandment known as Pirsumei Nisa. During the darkest time of the year, when light is scarce, we strive to bring the clarity of G-d and his miracles to the world. Today, the greatest menorah in the world is the State of Israel which continues to exist despite the wishes and attempts of the Muslim Arab word to destroy her.
In three thousand years, the battle has not changed. As dominant as the "Israeli-Arab" conflict may seem, the true war in Israel is an internal one. There are Jews who unabashedly profess that Israel should adopt every aspect of western secular culture, proudly labeling themselves as "modern Hellenists". As they attempt to extinguish the flame of Judaism that has burned throughout history, there are those who steadfastly refuse to succumb to the edicts of a gentilized government and a Supreme Court whose ignorance of Torah is surpassed only by its corrupted value system.
"Thus said the Lord; learn not the way of the Nations..." (Jeremiah 10)
A new revolt is stirring. Our forefather wandered forty years until the slave mentality perished in the desert. This Chanukah we have entered the 40th year since the battle of '67. The words of Matityahu the Maccabee can be heard echoing through the streets of Jerusalem "Whoever is for G-d, follow me!"
After Oslo, Camp David, the Roadmap and all other diplomatic initiatives have failed, the pragmatic and rational roads to peace have been exposed as impractical and irrational. The answer lies not with our enemies, but in our hearts. Those with the clarity and courage of the Maccabees must take action -- rallying the Jewish people and returning them to their culture, tradition, and values. It may seem to violate the laws of "realism" and "pragmatism", but if we act in faith, "the many will be delivered into the hands of the few, the evil into the hands of the righteous."
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