Dr. Chaim Y. Botwinick
This week, Jewish communities throughout the world are celebrating the beautiful Chag of Chanukah, or Chag HaUrim, the Festival of Lights.
This joy-filled Chag, commemorates the rededication of the second Beit HaMikdash, following its destruction and defilement by the Syrian-Greeks, the successful military victory of the Maccabees over the Syrian-Greek army and the miraculous burning of the menorah flames for eight days – originating from one single jar of pure oil which should have lasted for only one day.
As we know, upon reclaiming the Beit HaMikdash, the Maccabees, led by Matisyahu and his sons (led by Judah Maccabee) cleansed and rededicated our holy Temple to HaShem.
In addition to this remarkable feat, the Maccabees lead a successful and heroic revolt (167-16 BCE) against the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire’s oppression thereby liberating Yerushalayim and establishing the Hasmonean dynasty.
During this Hellenistic period in history, the confluence of these amazing events have inspired and strengthened our Jewish people for generations. They captured the hearts, minds and attention of our people and for centuries have offered inspiring stories of Jewish heroism, faith, resilience, emunah, bitachon and religious commitment.
Unlike most other enemies, the Syrian-Greeks were not totally interested in capturing land or territory, or the drawing of new borders or boundaries; nor were they particularly driven to eliminate or massacre Jews because they were Jews. Their sole interest and objective, was to do everything in their power and control to ensure and encourage the cultural, social and religious assimilation of the Jewish community, and to completely obliterate our religion, our religious practices and our belief in HaShem.
Interestingly enough our unwavering and unswerving commitment and dedication to Hashem was indeed more of a threat to the Syrian-Greeks than was our physical existence.
Throughout history, our Jewish community has experienced existential challenges, pogroms, wars and conflicts which threatened our physical existence. But, as we know, once our religion and religious practices are threatened, we are confronted with the very basic and fundamental foundation for our very survival and existence.
The great Kotzker Rebbe (Rabbi Mendel of Kotzk, 1787 -1859) is reported to have said that it is far more dangerous for our people to be threatened by wars against our religious and spiritual survival than it is by a physical danger or crisis. In fact, he often spoke about putting our spiritual existence ahead of our physical wellbeing and that our spiritual wellbeing and commitment was paramount and the highest priority for our existence.
This my friends is in part what Chag Chanuka is all about. From a metaphoric perspective – it represents the spiritual battle and struggle between light (our religion, religious commitment and spirituality) and darkness and the manner in which our light overshadows darkness.
Throughout our history, one of the most critical characteristics of acheinu bnai yisrael has always been our amazing ability and capacity to be resilient in the face of adversity and to always put our bitachon and emuna in Hashem above all else.
I can vividly recall when my good friend, Natan Sharansky was released from Soviet Prison, on February 11, 1986, one of the reporters at the airport in New York asked him the question …“Mr. Sharansky, “how were you able to survive the harsh conditions of prison?” His response was (to paraphrase) my survival in prison was due in large measure to my faith in HaShem…it was not due to my physical strength or stamina, but rather to my Jewish identity, my tefilot to HaShem and my deep belief that one day soon I would be released from prison and united with my people in Eretz Yisrael
When I replay this amazing story of resilience and (so many similar ones) in my head, I often ask myself the question… how many of us, whether living in Israel or in diaspora Jewish communities take our religious freedom seriously or for granted? And, why in spite of our physical freedom are our Jewish communities still assimilated and so distant from Jewish practice and identity?
Yes, there is indeed a significant explosion of vile Jew-hatred and anti-Semitism all around us, especially since October 7, 2023; and, we must do everything in our power and control to combat this metastasizing evil hatred. But, the one aspect of our lives which we do control completely is our bitachon and emunah in HaShem and the numerous ways in which we as a Jewish community and people embrace, celebrate and practice our Judaism.
On this Chag Chanuka, I am reminded of the countless stories of how our brothers and sisters who were hiding in the woods from the Nazis went through great lengths to do everything and anything possible to have secret lightings of the chanukia (menorah) by using bits of string or wood as makeshift menorahs and a piece of fat from a parcel of food; for oil; and if they were lucky, they would try to find or locate a match or a source of fire in order to light the make-shift chanukia and recite brachot over the lights.
This was a level of religious commitment and heroism not unlike the numerous stories about Jewish partisans hiding from Nazis in the forests while desperately searching for morsels of matzah during Pesach.
There are also countless stories of families who during the Spanish Inquisition lit Chanuka candles in small secret closet crevices located far from public view; and in Nazi Germany, where people lit Chanuka menorahs in the corners of their dark basements in order not to be seen by German Nazi army officers for fear that they would be either executed or carted off to death camps.
These are just a small fraction of how our brothers and sisters sacrificed so much in order to maintained their profoundly important connection to Judaism and Jewish practices through mesirat nefesh, They also were so instrumental in keep our people together as a Klal Yisrael..
Fast forward…..
As indicated, today, during Chag Chanuka 2025, we are blessed with a variety of opportunities to enjoy and celebrate our religious freedom and expression..
Whether lighting our chanukiot, putting on tefillin, giving tzedakah, performing acts of chesed, engaging in torah study or performing mitzvot, we are truly blessed with opportunities as never before in history.
Chanukah is not only a special joyous time for eating lakes, donates or paying dreidel with family and friends. They are all indeed beautiful activities and events. But rather a time for us as individuals and families and as a community to promote and celebrate the centrality of Judaism to our lives.
We hope and pray to HaShem that this Chanuka will usher in a renewed sense of achdut, Jewish commitment and Jewish observance and practice.
It is imperative that we redouble our efforts to fulfill more mitzvot and chesed.
Finally, we thank HaShem that we live in a community that enjoys religious freedom. We should not squander it, but rather cherish and protect it as a celebration of unswerving gratitude to HaShem
Let’s take advantage of it as we celebrate this Chanukah.
Wishing you and your families a joyous and bright Chag Chanuka.
Chag Urim Sameach.
About the Author:
Dr. Chaim Botwinick is a senior executive coach and an organizational consultant. He served as president and ceo of the central agency for Jewish education in Baltimore and Miami; in addition to head of school and principal for several Jewish day schools and yeshivot. As an Influencer, he has published and lectured extensively on topics relating to education, resource development, strategic planning and leadership development. Dr. Botwinick is co-founder of LEV Consulting Associates and producer/host of the Chinuch Horizons podcast series.
