The Lesson of Hanukkah: NOT by Might and Power

For the Twelfth Zionist Congress held in Carlsbad (now in the Czech Republic) in 1921, 11 artists contributed works which were specially printed and distributed in a limited edition portfolio to the delegates. Included in the collection was this piece by Joseph Budko called Leid und Hoffnung (Suffering and Hope).

Budko (1888-1940) was born in Poland, most active in Berlin and then moved to Palestine after Hitler became chancellor of Germany in 1933.  In 1934 he was appointed the director of the Bezalel art school in Jerusalem where he mentored many young artists.  He worked in woodcuts, engravings and etchings whose subjects were almost entirely Jewish. 

In this work, the artist depicts suffering in the form of the shtetl Jew. The hope is represented by the palm tree, growing strong and high in the Land of Israel.

The image includes this quote from Zechariah 4:6: Lo bechayil v’lo b’koach ki im b’ruchi (“Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit”). This passage is included in the Haftorah (prophetic reading) that is read on the Saturday of Hanukkah (the first night of the eight day holiday is Sunday December 14).  

Although the Hanukkah holiday celebrates the military victory of the Maccabees over the Seleucid Empire (which promoted Greek culture) resulting in the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem (requiring the miracle of the oil), it is notable that the Haftorah for Hankkah tells us that it is not might or power but spirit that brings victory.  

This is the point that Budko makes in his piece. The move from suffering to hope is not accomplished with power. The last two years have shown us that power alone is not sufficient.  

American singer-songwriter Debbie Friedman (1951-2011) put it this way:

Not by might and not by power,

But by spirit alone shall we all live in peace

I am ready. 

Happy Hanukkah.

You can hear Debbie Friedman’s song here:  

For more treasures from the Herzl and Zionism Collection of David Matlow which appear weekly in the Canadian Jewish News (https://thecjn.ca/) see  https://herzlcollection.com/treasure-trove