Hanukkah is one of the happiest and most beautiful of Jewish holidays. Many shapes and sizes of Hanukkah menorahs light up Jewish homes with a wondrous light. Little candles remind us all that the nation of Israel lives, and that its eternal light cannot be extinguished. The revolutions of the spinning dreidels remind us that days of darkness are followed by periods of light. Doughnuts with their chocolate or jelly-filled centers symbolize the way in which the best part, the sweetest part, is often hidden inside and cannot be seen at first glance. The miracle of Hanukkah is not that we defeated the Greeks on the battlefield. Military victory can guarantee physical survival but cannot ensure cultural, religious or national continuity. Conquering nations, despite their military successes, have been known to assimilate and disappear into the nations they conquered. The miracle of Hanukkah is the survival of Jewish spiritual culture in the face of Greek materialism. This survival is symbolized by the small cruse of oil found in the Temple, a single jar that the Greeks had not managed to defile. The cruse maintained its purity at a time when whole nations were losing their identities to Greek culture. That small cruse of oil has for thousands of years ignited and lighted Jewish souls in difficult days as well as joyful ones, although Jewish joy tends to be a bridge connecting one sorrow to the next. A worrisome dichotomy has developed between the so-called "state of Tel Aviv" and "state of Jerusalem." We are one nation living in two states growing further and further apart. The state of Tel Aviv sanctifies universalist Western values whose roots lie in ancient Greece. The state of Jerusalem attempts to preserve the Jewish values that have served as the basis for our survival throughout the generations, including during times of enslavement, hardship and destruction. The state of Tel Aviv sanctifies democratic values and individual rights. It exalts the "I" in a state of all its citizens. The state of Jerusalem seeks to realize the vision of a Jewish and democratic state. It sees the state of Israel as both Jewish and democratic, trying to balance the two, while preserving norms and mores that are Jewish. Hanukkah teaches us about the power of vision. The Jewish people, within Israel and during many years in exile, have proven time and again that we can withstand hardship and great suffering so long as we possess a true vision. There is no sacrifice a Jew will not make in the name of this vision as long as the burden is collectively shared and leaders lead by example. We are a wise nation that quickly spots forgery, deception and cheating. We do not need investigators and judges to tell us so. But in the absence of a vision, or leaders who set a personal example, Jews are quick to break the rules. As the Bible says, without a vision the nation shall perish. The holiday of Hanukkah teaches that a grand vision can lead a small nation to untold triumphs. Particularly now, with Israel encircled by enemies near and far, such a vision is vital and necessary. The resilience of a society and country stands in proportion to the strength of their vision as well as their faith in the righteousness of their path. Hanukkah teaches us that a determined and faith-filled minority can recruit an entire nation to its cause. Matityahu and his sons did not represent a majority of the people. When they raised the flag of revolt, most of the Jewish people were immersed in a prolonged process of spiritual assimilation. The dilution of the Jewish spirit created a huge void which was consequently filled with Greek wisdom: a magnificent wisdom that sanctified materialism, science, believing only what you see and being infinitely skeptical. Nevertheless, a small group of believers, who sanctified the spirit, who believed in God above any material thing, managed to change the course of Jewish history. Today, too, Israeli society badly needs a group of determined men and women, honest and devoted to the Zionist cause, who can change the direction of Israeli society. This Hanukkah sees Israel and its leaders facing many challenges in the security, foreign policy, education and economic realms. These challenges have accompanied us since the establishment of the state. Israelis' general contentedness and our belief in the righteousness of our path attest to Israel's durability in the face of these challenges. The Hasmonean victory is an ongoing occurrence in Israel's history. It is the spirit of the Maccabees that will ensure victory in this generation as well.
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Hanukkah also teaches us that leadership can sprout up in small, backwater places. The Hasmonean family, which led the revolt, was not from Jerusalem, Bnei Brak or Tel Aviv. They were from Modi'in which at the time was a small village by the side of the road, and definitely not one of elitist central cities. Today, as well, in an ongoing and fascinating process, the backbone of IDF leadership hails from the country's periphery. The sons of the old elite have vacated the top military spots giving way to religious soldiers, Jews of Middle Eastern origin, Druze and new immigrants. Perhaps a new leadership will spring from Israel's periphery that will lead Israel on a path of national pride and combat the current corruption of values.
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