Through the Ages

Welcome to your ASBEE Mishpacha

Anshei Sphard - Beth El Emeth Congregation

120 East Yates Rd. North, Memphis, TN 38120

901-682-1611, Fax: 901-682-1641

asbee@aol.com

The Meaning of Hanukah Throughout the Ages

I. In Classical Literature
Talmud Shabbat 21b:
When the Greeks entered the When the Hashmonai prevailed
sanctuary they defiled all the oil they only found one cruse.
a miracle .. 8 days

Rambam 3, 1-2
When the kings of Greece decreed decrees the Hashmonaim won and killed
and saved Israel.. and kinship returned
against Israel and did not allow them to to Israel more
engage in Torah and mitzvot than 25 years.. oil miracle.
and cast their hands against their money and daughters
and entered the sanctuary and ..defiled the pure
and Israel was very much afflicted..

Siddur, al hanisim
When the wicked kingdom stood to make Israel You handed over the many
in the hands of
Forget the Torah and to violate your laws.. the few.. and you made for
yourself a great name.. Your children purified your sanctuary and lit
candles

Pesikta II
When they won they entered the Temple
And found 8 spears of metal and affixed them and lit in them candles.
Why do they read hallel on it? For it says "the L-d has lit it up for
us, make a holiday on the corners of the altar.

Midrash- The Tabernacle of Moses was completed on Hanukah but G-d waited
until Nissan, the birthday time of the forefathers, to celebrate and
consecrate the new Temple. Years later, to address this injustice to
Kislev, the month of Hanukah, Hanukah was established during this month.

Midrash- Cain and Abel also brought first korban then

II. In Normative Literature
Meshech Hochmah- The miracle of the oil shows Divine Providence.
Naftali Zcvi Yehudah Berlin- The menorah attests to the Torah and its
learning
which reached its peak in the time of the Second Temple.
Samson Raphael Hirsch- This miracle is the last in the miracles which
G-d did for us .. to serve as symbols to enlighten the way in the
travails of exile.
Shal"ah- These days are particularly fit for study of Torah.

Overall themes: Torah, Divine Providence, thankfulness, dignity, going
beyond the call of duty.

III. In Hasidic Literature
Sefas Emes- it is chinuch, a dedication (hanukah) for the whole world
Fire- make up for letting guard down, laziness before, now rededication
What was most unusual and unique about this miracle? The last, has to
last.. This holiday we can do fully, it's so easy
Why is it still a holiday? Since the time is imprinted with it. Miracles
are above nature, and it can rise above the conventional notions of
time.
(quoting from Shelah) it is chinuch (education) for whole world
Ibid. This holiday is hidden in the oral Torah so one has to search
according to one's level. That's why there are 3 ways to light the
Hanukiah. When we light the candles it is as if we are lighting that
hidden Tabernacle of long ago which was buried and hidden long ago.

Ibid. Every redemption is a preparation for the next exile. Hanukah is
in preparation for the exile and the exile is in preparation for the
final redemption.

Kedushat Levi- "bazman hazeh, kehayom hazeh- at this time and unto this
day"- it has to last until today. When we light the candles, the light
from then shines now.
1) hagai
2) original mishkan
3) Cain and Abel also brought first korban, sacrifice then

Shem Mishmuel- The three oppressions of the Greeks against the Jews are
parallel to the three mitzvot of Hanukah. They forbade the Jewish
calendar, Shabbat and they forced their Hellenistic lifestyle on us. We
light the candles and have an obligation of Hallel, praise, and
Hoda-ah, thanksgiving.

At this time of year we gained something beyond our station in life- to
light candles from the Sanctuary. We have an opportunity at this time to
go beyond our station.

Rosh Hodesh, the calendar- hallel, hitlahavut, enthusiasm
Shabbat- the lights of Hanukah
The self centeredness of hedonism- Hodaah= hachnaah Thanksgiving and
submission

Ibid. As the Greeks would afflict our daughters, it put a stain on the
Jewish people. We
could not rid ourselves of this until the holiness of the people of the
Talmud arrived and pushed away all the impurity of this Greek influence,
and that man was born at this time because that was the final removal of
blemish from Israel.

Hochmah U'musar- the joy of acceptance of prayer is the idea that one
found favor
in G-d's eyes, so too the oil shows that He cares.