On Chanukah, we give thanks to G-d. During the Grace after Meals and the Shemoneh Esreh, we add the words, ?You delivered the mighty into the hands of the weak and the many into the hands of the few.?
In order to bring home the idea of the victory of the few over the many, Rashi (Genesis 37:1) brings the parable of the flax dealer:
?The camels of a flax dealer once came into a city laden with flax. A blacksmith asked in wonder where all that flax could be stored, and a clever fellow answered him, ?A single spark from your bellows could burn it all up.? So too, when Jacob saw all of Esau?s chiefs, he said wonderingly, ?Who can conquer all these?? It therefore says, ?These are the generations of Jacob - Joseph....? (verse 2) For it is written, ?The house of Jacob shall be a fire and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble.? (Obadiah 1:18) One spark issuing from Joseph will burn up all of these.?
The spark that burns all the enemies of Israel is the spark of holiness, the spark of truth and faith, as we find in the Ba?al HaMa?or on Genesis 37:1.
Today, the parable of the flax dealer alludes to the numerous enemies threatening the Jewish People, who possess the ?spark? - truth and faith. In our time as well, we are the few against the many, fighting for our survival on several fronts. Hundreds of millions of Muslims long for the destruction of the State of Israel, and are working towards that goal - it will never be. Today, Israel?s enemies in Europe and the world, as well, raise up their heads in violent verbal and physical anti-Semitism. Today, the cynical, hypocritical world has decided to put the State of Israel on international trial, instead of being grateful to the People and State of Israel for the divine, eternal values that Israel has bequeathed to mankind. After all, the State of Israel is the light at the end of the time-tunnel of mankind.
Quite the contrary, the world should beat its breast in contrition over what they did to us down through history, for their silence and collaboration with the Nazis during the terrible Holocaust. Unfortunately, in face of the threats and aggression of our numerous enemies, people are rising up in our midst for whom the difficulties along the way have weakened their spirit and worn them out. They are suggesting to our enemies various bizarre plans reflecting weakness and lack of faith, plans of surrender and capitulation to pressure, plans that broadcast despair and arm our enemies with the motivation and the will to continue attacking us.
Yet, a heroic generation will surely arise, imbued with truth and faith, a generation that will continue the ways of the Maccabees, and that will know that ours is a war of the sons of light against the sons of darkness. They will know what the Jewish People are, what their identity is, and what is unique about them. They will realize that Israel?s destiny, in the Land of Israel, is to shower mankind with the light of love and faith. They will be a generation who do not fear or despair over ?camels? or ?flax.? We pray that this will be our generation.
The day is not far off when the spark of truth and faith will consume our enemies forever, as it says, ?All wickedness will evaporate like smoke.?
With blessings for a joyous Chanukah.
In order to bring home the idea of the victory of the few over the many, Rashi (Genesis 37:1) brings the parable of the flax dealer:
?The camels of a flax dealer once came into a city laden with flax. A blacksmith asked in wonder where all that flax could be stored, and a clever fellow answered him, ?A single spark from your bellows could burn it all up.? So too, when Jacob saw all of Esau?s chiefs, he said wonderingly, ?Who can conquer all these?? It therefore says, ?These are the generations of Jacob - Joseph....? (verse 2) For it is written, ?The house of Jacob shall be a fire and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble.? (Obadiah 1:18) One spark issuing from Joseph will burn up all of these.?
The spark that burns all the enemies of Israel is the spark of holiness, the spark of truth and faith, as we find in the Ba?al HaMa?or on Genesis 37:1.
Today, the parable of the flax dealer alludes to the numerous enemies threatening the Jewish People, who possess the ?spark? - truth and faith. In our time as well, we are the few against the many, fighting for our survival on several fronts. Hundreds of millions of Muslims long for the destruction of the State of Israel, and are working towards that goal - it will never be. Today, Israel?s enemies in Europe and the world, as well, raise up their heads in violent verbal and physical anti-Semitism. Today, the cynical, hypocritical world has decided to put the State of Israel on international trial, instead of being grateful to the People and State of Israel for the divine, eternal values that Israel has bequeathed to mankind. After all, the State of Israel is the light at the end of the time-tunnel of mankind.
Quite the contrary, the world should beat its breast in contrition over what they did to us down through history, for their silence and collaboration with the Nazis during the terrible Holocaust. Unfortunately, in face of the threats and aggression of our numerous enemies, people are rising up in our midst for whom the difficulties along the way have weakened their spirit and worn them out. They are suggesting to our enemies various bizarre plans reflecting weakness and lack of faith, plans of surrender and capitulation to pressure, plans that broadcast despair and arm our enemies with the motivation and the will to continue attacking us.
Yet, a heroic generation will surely arise, imbued with truth and faith, a generation that will continue the ways of the Maccabees, and that will know that ours is a war of the sons of light against the sons of darkness. They will know what the Jewish People are, what their identity is, and what is unique about them. They will realize that Israel?s destiny, in the Land of Israel, is to shower mankind with the light of love and faith. They will be a generation who do not fear or despair over ?camels? or ?flax.? We pray that this will be our generation.
The day is not far off when the spark of truth and faith will consume our enemies forever, as it says, ?All wickedness will evaporate like smoke.?
With blessings for a joyous Chanukah.