The city of Yerushalayim in Israel.
The Beis Hamikdosh.
Over 2000 years ago in the Land of Isreal, the Jewish people lived happily in cities and farms.
In Israel's capitol city, Yerushalayim stood a magnificent building that shone brightly. People from around the world came to marvel at its glory. It was the 2nd Beis Hamikdosh. It was a place of service for Hashem.It was the place where the Kohanim (Priests) would bring gifts to Hashem, the Jewish people would give gifts to each other, and daven to Hashem there. One of the big jobs done there daily by the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) was lighting the Menorah.
(For more info on the Beis Hamikdosh click here: http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/144586/jewish/The-Holy-Temple.htm)
There was a King of Greece named Antiyochus. He didnt understand the ways of the Jewish people. He wanted to Hellenize them by encouraging them to only worship their bodies-worship of the Greek people, such as by going to the gym and beautifying themselves all day long. He believed the Jews could learn Torah and do Mitzvos but it had to be learned just as any other non religious subject. It could not be connected to Hashem. Also the Mitzvos they were allowed to keep could only be the ones which seemed to have good reasons intellectually. The ones that couldn't be understood, he forbade them from keeping, such as a bris for a baby boy when he turned 8 days old.
He marched to Israel with his army, came into the Beis Hamikdosh, and made the place a mess. He also gave clear orders telling the Jewish people they must conform to the Greek ways and if they wouldn't they will find themselves in great big trouble.
The Jewish people had a decision to make.
Should they listen to King Antiyochus and follow his decrees out of fear of punishment or should they risk everything for the sake of listening to the King of all Kings Hashem and not forsake His holy Torah and Mitzvos.
Some people werent so brave and listened to King Antiyochus, Many other people chose to continue following in Hashem's ways although it was a time of danger for them.
However, these Jewish people decided that they must be SAFE while learning Torah and do mitzvos.
They packed their belongings and went to live in caves until the danger was over. There they kept Shabbos, they continued eating Kosher food, making bris for boys, davening, learning Alef Beis, Parsha, etc.
There was a Rabbi named Matisyahu. He was also the Kohen Gadol who lit the Menorah in the Beis Hamikdosh every day. He wanted to bring order back in to Israel. He wished for the to Jewish people to be able to practice Judaism freely and fearlessly. He longed to restore life in the Beis Hamikdosh and continue lighting the Menorah as they once did.
He invited his 5 brave sons to join him along with any Jew who was brave and strong. They called their group the "Macabees" (acronym for, "Whoever is with Hashem come with me.") They were going to go against all odds; they were a small amount of people vs. many, old vs. young, weaker vs. stronger,... They wanted to rid the land of the Greek people forcing them into a lifestyle that wasn't for them.
They trusted in Hashem's help. They went out of the caves, pulled their strength together and against the natural way of things they won the big Greek army.
Where do you think was the first place the Macabees went to visit after they won? Im sure you guessed it. They went to the Bes Hamikdosh.
They were so excited to get there. They ran up its 15 steps, opened up its big doors and walked inside. They were sadly surprised to see the mess the Greek people had created when they "visited" there. Things were broken, oil for the Menora had been spilled, there was a non kosher animal placed on the alter, etc.
They were shocked and frozen in their places. It was hard to believe that such a holy place could be so profaned.
Instead of tearing up upon this sight and standing there bitterly, they chose to take action.
They continued to work as a team as they had before and began to clean up the Beis Hamikdosh. They put everything back in its proper place and threw away the things that didn't belong in there.
The Beis Hamikdosh was now ready for services to begin again. Matisyahu, the Kohen Gadol, was ready to light the Menorah. All the oil put away for it had a broken seal which made it impure for lighting. They finally found one sealed jug of oil with the stamp of the Kohen Gadol on it.
The Kohen Gadol lit the Menorah with the oil. The oil was enough for just ONE days lighting, however for the next 8 days when the Jewish people came back to the Beis Hamikdosh and while waiting 8 days for the next shipment of oil to get to them they found the oil and fire still burning in the Menorah.
Was it a natural occurrence that the oil burned for 8 days and nights? Nopesies! It was a miracle done by Hashem.
Nowadays, we don't need that miracle and as you can see, the candles we light on Chanuka melt as the seconds tick by. :)
Today, we remember the miracle of the oil in two ways:
1. Visually and manually: We light our own Menorahs in our homes and Shuls for 8 nights.
2. Edibley: We eat foods with oil; latkas, donuts, french toast, in salad dressing... ( it doesn't necessarily need to be fried. Healthier option. ;)
While the Jewish people were camping out in the caves, they were learning Torah and doing Mitzvos.
The Greek people came looking for them making sure they weren't doing anything "illegal". When they found them there, all they saw were the Jews playing dreidel - spinning tops so they left them unharmed.
When the Jewish people heard the hoof beats of the Greek soldiers coming to scout out the caves, they hid all Jewish items and Torahs, pulled out the dreidels and began to play with them as if they were playing with them all along.
Today, we play dreidel with letters on each of it 4 sides- nun, gimmel, hey, shin."It stands for and reminds us of: "A miracle happened there in Israel."
Can we be a Macabee today if we dont have Greeks... telling us that we cant practice Judaism properly?
Yes, we most definitely can!!
When we are in a situation in which we need to choose good over bad, yet we choose the right thing we are called a Macabee.
Remember, making the right choice isnt always easy or fun but that is why Macabees were BRAVE! They were brave to choose the right choices in the face of hardship.
Let's be the Macabees of today!!
***
Is it important to learn stories that took place so many years ago?
Is it important to keep tradition from so long ago?
By learning the stories of our heritage and continuing to follow their traditions, we stay connected to our past.
They also teaches us countless morals and values we can derive from them for ourselves and our families to grow to be proper people in which we as well as Hashem can be proud of.
Happy Chanuka!!
