As A Jew: How today’s challenges are rooted in Yaakov & Channukah
I have been studying Rav Yitzchak Hutner’s writings on the holidays this year with a small group. They are deep and illuminating and help make otherwise esoteric aspects of our Chaggim become fascinating facets imbued with evocative symbolism. One of his pieces on Channukah not only identified one of the unique aspects of Channukah but also resonated deeply with some of my feelings since the ceasefire was signed.
Rav Hutner begins by examining Yaakov’s struggle with a man, who is identified as the angel of Eisav[1], as he is moving his family in preparation for meeting his brother Eisav. The Torah tells us that Yaakov struggles with the angel who could not defeat him but dealt him a blow to the thigh, changing Jewish practice forever. We do not eat the sciatic nerve to recall this injury and this is reason that kosher filet minion is not an dish you will find (at least for Ashkenazim). Rav Hutner sees deep meaning in this encounter which foreshadows our experience in our current exile of Edom (which is Eisav). This encounter with Eisav’s spiritual power is symbolic of our struggle in exile under the many nations that have sought to defeat, subjugate and kill us over the centuries since the destruction of the second temple.
Rav Hutner explains that the struggle was symbolic of the times in history when our enemies sought to suppress our Judaism. Not those times when the intent was to kill us but when the goal was to erase our Jewish identity. When they legislated laws to make it almost impossible to embrace our Jewish practice. For the Seleucid-Greeks in the Channukah story (which took place during the 2nd Temple period) this meant outlawing foundational Jewish practice. No Shabbat. No Brit Milah. No Torah study. They wanted to choke out the breath of our Jewish pride and practice. This was the first time our enemies attacked out spirituality in this way and because of that it was another first as well.
For the first time we had Jews who did disavow their Judaism in favor of adopting the Greek way of life – the Helenists or Mityavnim. We had been in exile before under tyrannical rulers, but we never had Jews who distanced themselves from our people and what we hold dear. In the Egyptian exile we were cruelly mistreated but we do not find that there were Jews who became Egyptians. In all likelihood even if there were Jews who wanted this they would not have been accepted. On Channukah for the first time there was a new paradigm where the goal was to erase Jewish identity rather than to kill the Jews and this meant that some Jews did assimilate in response.
The angel of Eisav is not able to defeat Yaakov and this is symbolic of our power as a people to keep strongly to our Judaism during these times of Shmad: Roman outlawing of Jewish practice, Muslim forced conversion in the 12th century and any other time in history when Jewish practice comes under attack. However, the angel was able to wound Yaakov in the thigh, and this symbolizes the fact that, although as a nation we will persevere, there will be individuals who will not be able to withstand the pressures. These are the Mityavnim who embrace the Greek culture and scorned their Judaism[2]. Rav Hutner points out that there is a deep paradox here. Yaakov is the first of the forefathers who has all of his children who identify as Jewish and carry on the legacy of their father. It is only after Yaakov that we can apply the principal that “A Jew, even if they sin, they are always a Jew[3].” Even a Jew that denounces their Judaism; even if they convert to another religion, is still a Jew. This is a great strength of Jewish identity but within this very strength are the seeds of challenge. This means that even those who denounce their Judaism and turn their back on their Jewish identity, the Mitavnim, are still part of the tribe. This is the wound Yaakov sustains in the thigh – future descendants who work against the Jewish people. Every time I see a media item about someone who is denouncing Israel’s right to exist “as a Jew” or an organization that claims to be Jewish, joining in the demonizing of the singular Jewish state, I think of this concept. Members of the Jewish people who are desperate to distance themselves from Israel and usually the Jewish people as well. This is legacy of the wounded thigh of Yaaakov – those who are unable to withstand the pressure.
Channukah recalls those moments, over 2000 years ago, when we were victorious over the Greeks and returned to autonomy in Israel. We were once again under our own rule in our land. But we also had Hellenists, Jews who embraced the ‘ism’s of the day and caved to the pressure to look upon everything that Judaism stands for with scorn. We hope each Channukah that those Jews whose sparks are but a dim ember somewhere deep inside of them see the flickering lights of the Menorah and perhaps those embers inside them will begin to burn brighter. This year that dream feels both harder, and more attainable than ever, at the same time. Every time I listen to a video of one of the released hostages, I am overwhelmed by these “secular Jews” who speak of the great faith they cultivated in captivity. They have returned, not just to safety, but to let their lights shine forth for all of us. And every time I see a post by the Hellenists of today, I am disheartened and depressed. But Channukah is about light shining into the darkness and making an indelible impact no matter how bleak and unending the darkness may appear to be. May the Hellenists of today be blessed to see this light and may it ignite their own internal embers of Jewish identity. May we all recognize the great light within each and every Jew and may we use it collectively, as a people, to light up the world.
[1] See Bereishit 32:23-33 and Rashi on 32:25 that quotes the midrash identifying the man as the angel of Eisav
[2] The end of Masechet Sukkot (Talmud Bavli) tells a story of a prominent Kohen family with a child who became a Hellenist. It seems this challenge was widespread.
[3] Talmud Bavli, Sanhedrin 44a
