Why do we celebrate Chanukah as a miracle done on our behalf? Wasn’t Hashem simply standing up for Himself from Hellenists who were determined to destroy Him and Judaism?
Key Takeaways
- Chanukah as a model for adversity
The Chanukah story demonstrates that Jewish survival is not rooted in military might but in divine partnership. The Maccabees’ victory symbolizes how faith transforms impossible situations.
- Faith is not confidence without proof
According to the Piaseczno Rebbe, faith is the inner light of God within every Jew, not emotional certainty or rational argument. It is an inherited spiritual quality passed down from the forefathers.
- Action shapes belief
Jewish tradition and modern psychology agree: behavior precedes and shapes inner conviction. Performing mitzvot—even before fully believing—can awaken and strengthen faith (“ha’lev noteh acharei ha’ma’asim”).
- Faith is attachment to God
A. J. Heschel describes faith as engagement, sensitivity, and relationship. Mitzvot are acts done with God, not merely for God. Rav Soloveitchik adds that the Jew’s mission is imitatio Dei—to act in the likeness of God.
- Perception is internally shaped
Just as emotional states color how we see the world, spiritual perspective shapes how we understand adversity. Identifying with God shifts perception from fear to purpose, enabling resilience during suffering.
- Jewish identity is inherently spiritual
Mattityahu encouraged the Maccabees not by promising military success but by reminding them of their spiritual lineage—Avraham, Yosef, Pinchas—and their inherited faith. Jewish strength comes from identity, not numbers.
- Hester Panim requires deeper faith
Real faith is tested when God’s presence is hidden. The Jew must continue to believe and act faithfully even when the world appears harsh or God seems distant.
- Stories of martyrdom highlight faith in action
Rabbi Akiva, Chana and her seven sons, and others chose loyalty to God over physical survival. Their deaths are portrayed not as defeat but as the ultimate expression of faith and eternal life.
- Being chosen carries responsibility and challenge
Jewish distinctiveness, like Yosef’s “favorite” status, often triggers hostility. Yet resisting this identity drains spiritual energy; embracing it restores strength and purpose.
- Persecution targets Jewish faith
As the Piaseczno Rebbe taught, oppressors seek not only to kill Jews but to extinguish Jewish faith. Therefore, during adversity, the response must be to hold tighter to God—not loosen the bond.
- The core Chanukah lesson
When Jews reaffirm their identity, act with faith, and attach themselves to God—even under pressure—they activate divine partnership. In doing so, they transform adversity and open the path for redemption, just as the Maccabees did.