Great military leaders make great military leaders. Yet, great military leaders do not usually make great leaders. Great generals have great difficulty understanding the needs or the importance of each individual. They have great difficulty in even understanding the scope and depth of the democratic process. These, though, are obstacles that can be overcome. These are sensitivities that can be learnt.
The greater trap waiting to engulf every great general is the exaggerated belief in one's own power and might. It is that puffed up sense of self that leads such individuals into reckless and dangerous escapades. They become filled with an adrenaline rush of greatness and drama, and the greater the opposition, the greater the rush. They feel a need to see their self-motivated vision through to the end, regardless of the facts and the dangers.
On the festival of Chanukah, we celebrate the victory of the small army of Maccabees over the oppressive Greek warlords. It was the victory of the small group of faithful against the large hordes of the faithless. Miraculously, the few overwhelmed the many.
Yet, the focus of the festival of Chanukah seems to highlight the smaller miracle of the jar of oil. The little jar of oil that was found untouched and pure, and that had enough oil to last for one day, lasted, in fact, for the eight days needed to produce more oil. The Maharal asks the question why such emphasis is put on such a wonderful yet small miracle, which is much less impactful than the victory of the few against the many. The military victory represented the end of spiritual and physical domination, while the jar of oil "simply" ensured the continuance of the light.
The military victory, the Maharal explains, was a great miracle. Yet, the source of such a great miracle can usually be confused with military power and tactics. The Divine origins of such a victory can be lost amidst the din of the pompous self-adulation of the victors.
G-d used the jar of oil as a signature, to clarify the author of all miracles.
Interestingly, we see the same menorah in a different context repeating the same message. In Zechariah 4:1-6 we read:
The other picture, in the back pages of the newspapers, showed the mother of Chaim Amram receiving a citation of heroism for her murdered son. Amram sacrificed his life to save many others during the Netanya bombing, and his loss was so painfully etched in the face and in the eyes of his grieving mother. Chaim Amram's sister just begged the reporters not to forget Chaim and his family; and yet, the picture appeared on the back pages.
After winning many great military victories, Sharon is today ensuring that 25 million dollars is transferred to the Palestinians to help them clear the debris of the destruction his government has wrought. Yet, no money can be found to help rebuild the lives of the thousands he sent into exile.
Ariel Sharon's victories will be but a passing cloud.
Chaim Amram gave his life to save others. His part in averting what could have been so much worse will be remembered as an eternal flame.
The greater trap waiting to engulf every great general is the exaggerated belief in one's own power and might. It is that puffed up sense of self that leads such individuals into reckless and dangerous escapades. They become filled with an adrenaline rush of greatness and drama, and the greater the opposition, the greater the rush. They feel a need to see their self-motivated vision through to the end, regardless of the facts and the dangers.
On the festival of Chanukah, we celebrate the victory of the small army of Maccabees over the oppressive Greek warlords. It was the victory of the small group of faithful against the large hordes of the faithless. Miraculously, the few overwhelmed the many.
Yet, the focus of the festival of Chanukah seems to highlight the smaller miracle of the jar of oil. The little jar of oil that was found untouched and pure, and that had enough oil to last for one day, lasted, in fact, for the eight days needed to produce more oil. The Maharal asks the question why such emphasis is put on such a wonderful yet small miracle, which is much less impactful than the victory of the few against the many. The military victory represented the end of spiritual and physical domination, while the jar of oil "simply" ensured the continuance of the light.
The military victory, the Maharal explains, was a great miracle. Yet, the source of such a great miracle can usually be confused with military power and tactics. The Divine origins of such a victory can be lost amidst the din of the pompous self-adulation of the victors.
G-d used the jar of oil as a signature, to clarify the author of all miracles.
Interestingly, we see the same menorah in a different context repeating the same message. In Zechariah 4:1-6 we read:
And the angel that spoke with me returned, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep. And he said unto me: "What seest thou?" And I said: "I have seen, and behold a menorah all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and its seven lamps thereon; there are seven pipes, yea, seven, to the lamps, which are upon the top thereof; and two olive-trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof." And I answered and spoke to the angel that spoke with me, saying: "What are these, my lord?" Then the angel that spoke with me answered and said unto me: "Knowest thou not what these are?" And I said: "No, my lord." Then he answered and spoke unto me, saying: "This is the word of HaShem unto Zerubbabel, saying: 'Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit,' saith HaShem of hosts.Two pictures in the newspapers held my attention. One was of the tired old general, Ariel Sharon, leaving his hospital room after his small stroke. The picture showed a slightly frightened, but superficially confident Sharon trying to be witty with reporters. What I saw was a man trying to ignore the little miracle sent his way and attempting to project invulnerability.
The other picture, in the back pages of the newspapers, showed the mother of Chaim Amram receiving a citation of heroism for her murdered son. Amram sacrificed his life to save many others during the Netanya bombing, and his loss was so painfully etched in the face and in the eyes of his grieving mother. Chaim Amram's sister just begged the reporters not to forget Chaim and his family; and yet, the picture appeared on the back pages.
After winning many great military victories, Sharon is today ensuring that 25 million dollars is transferred to the Palestinians to help them clear the debris of the destruction his government has wrought. Yet, no money can be found to help rebuild the lives of the thousands he sent into exile.
Ariel Sharon's victories will be but a passing cloud.
Chaim Amram gave his life to save others. His part in averting what could have been so much worse will be remembered as an eternal flame.