Libi BaMizrach

The story of Chanukah is well known and beloved by all. It is a thrilling tale of the fight of the Jews against the Syrian-Greek oppressors, who oppressed us and tried to take our religion away. The heroic Maccabees fought the military occupation and miraculously won. Upon entering the Temple they found only one completely pure flask of oil and it lasted for eight days. Accordingly, we light candles, eat latkes, spin dreidels, give some gifts, say Al Hanissim, and . . . that's about it. To quote a popular formula regarding all Jewish Holidays, “They tried to kill us. We won. Let's eat.” Of course, our Sages found far more depth in the story, and there is much commentary about why they instituted this longest of Jewish Holidays (There are really only seven days of Pesach, and Succot & Shmini Atzeret are separate holidays). It is a Yom Tov that is full of meaning and relevance to those who take the time to look a little bit below the surface. To illustrate...

It is apparent in the parshiyot of Bereishit that although the Patriarchs were concerned with many matters, one thing, above all, was crucial. They were determined to pass down to future generations the Bircas Avraham – the blessing that Hashem gave to Avraham Avinu – that of a special relationship between the Almighty and the Jewish People, and between the Jewish People and Eretz Yisrael. This desire is considered a crowning achievement of Avraham: For I [Hashem] have known him [Avraham] because he will instruct his  children and his household after him, that they should keep the way of Hashem  to perform righteousness and justice, so that Hashem will bring upon Avraham  that which He spoke concerning him. [Bereishis 18:19] This desire – to pass down our legacy to our children – is something that we think about more and more as we get older, which we certainly ought to. In our society, the main legal vehicle for formalizing the way that legacy is...