Vayeshev: On the Light of Hanuka and Israeli Independence

by Rav Yosef Carmel, translated by Hillel Fendel

Are the Hanukah miracles of 2,000 years ago relevant to our generation? The answer is: Yes, more than ever before!

Why is that? Let us begin the explanation at the beginning – from the first book of the Pentateuch. When Yosef was sold into servitude, he was taken out of the Land of Israel and brought down to Egypt. We can say that this marked the beginning of the exile of the Jewish People. For after Yosef became viceroy of Egypt, his brothers "followed" him there, and ended up remaining there – they and their descendants – for over 230 years, until the miraculous Exodus. Yosef's descent to Egypt began the long torturous path of his people, and rendered them totally dependent on others.

In the introduction to his Laws of Hanukah the Rambam explains that the thanks we give every year on Hanukah for the miracles we merited is actually twofold. 1) We thank G-d for the nullification of the Syrian Greek decrees that, inter alia, prevented us from studying Torah and observing the laws of family purity – the ABC's of living a religious Jewish life; and 2) we also thank G-d for the miracles of our military victories and the return of Jewish sovereignty to the Land for over 200 years. In his words:

"During the Second Temple period, the Greek kingdom issued decrees against the Jewish people, to nullify their faith and forbid them from observing the Torah… They stole their property and their daughters, and wreaked havoc in the Temple… They oppressed them greatly until the G-d of our ancestors had mercy upon them and delivered them from their hand... The Hasmoneans, the High Priests, vanquished them… One of the Priests became King, and sovereignty returned to Israel for more than 200 years, until the destruction of the Second Temple."

Taking a look backwards, we note that the Jewish People enjoyed only short periods of national independence throughout their history. Our Sages related to this point in the Midrash (Vayikra Rabba 29,2):

"G-d showed Yaakov in his dream the ministering angel of Babylon climbing 70 rungs [corresponding to the 70 years of the Babylonian exile], then that of Media climbing 52 rungs [52 years of the kingdom of the Persian Medes], then Greece – 180 rungs [the Sages allocated 180 years between Alexander the Great and the Hasmoneans], and then Rome [Edom] climbing an unspecified number of rungs [apparently because of the length of the current exile, from the destruction the Second Temple until now; the Third Temple has not yet been built]. 

"Yaakov Avinu was frightened: "Perhaps he [the Roman minister] will never descend [and the Exile will never end]?" G-d said, "Do not fear, my servant Yaakov" (Yeshayahu 44,2) – Even if he climbs as high as My abode, I will bring him down, as is written: "If you [Edom/Rome] climb as high as an eagle, and even if you place your nest among the stars, from there I will take you down, says G-d" (Ovadiah 1,4).

The Midrash continues and says that Yaakov feared again that perhaps he, too, would ascend and then have to descend, like the other nations. G-d reassured him that this would never happen and that his descendants would merit eternal self-rule in the Land of Israel. Incredibly, the Midrash tells us, Yaakov did not believe – and did not ascend! G-d said, "Had you believed and ascended, you would not have descended. But since you did not believe and ascend, your descendants will be enslaved and be oppressed, etc."

The Midrash continues: 

"Yaakov [again] feared and said, "Master of the Universe, might this be forever? Will we never merit political redemption and freedom from spiritual decrees?" G-d said, "And you, My servant Yaakov, do not fear … and do not be frightened, Israel, for behold, I will deliver you from afar, and your descendants from the land of their captivity, and Yaakov will return and dwell serenely, and no one will threaten him" (Yirmiyahu 30,10). In our generation, we have merited for the first time in Jewish history a very significant Ingathering of our Exile; millions of Jews have returned home over the past 140 years. We are in our 75^th year of political independence, and we have merited an unparalleled sprouting of Torah study. 

Let us give thanks to G-d this coming Hanukah holiday for all He has given us! Let us pray, too, that we will fully merit to "dwell serenely and no one will threaten us."