Jerusalem, Chanuka, and US Recognition of Our Capitol
Adapted from Rabbi Braun’s sermon in 5778
The United States government has officially recognized that Yerushalayim is the capital of Israel.
Many are ecstatic, some are cautious and worried and others are upset.
I want to highlight one aspect of the discussion that relates to both Chanuka and the parsha. Namely, the fear of reprisal! If we move the embassy they will come after us.
I recently received a book of Chanuka Torah from the Mashgiach of Lakewood. Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, I began to peruse the book. The table of contents looked interesting: there was a chapter on the strength and power of Mattityahu. Another on the strengthening of one’s self for war.
It was downhill from there. The chapter on the preparation for war details the war with our yetzer hara, our evil inclination.
Where did Mattityahu get his strength from?
He writes that originally Mattityahu and family were scared of the Greeks as well. When Mattityahu saw one of the Greeks sacrificing an impure animal on the altar, a fire of Zealotry burned inside him; he jumped on the altar and killed all the Greeks around him, thus beginning the war with the Greeks.
The clear message is that a real Jewish fighter is one who fights their evil inclination. That is the war that we are to be preoccupied with. Actual war is not for bnai torah.
The only thing that can inspire us to actual war is a defilement of the sanctuary, the holy. Nothing else could bring a frum Jew to actual battle!
There is no question that there is some truth in those words. We struggle with our yetzer hara, no doubt. And we should be zealous with regard our Temples etc.
But that is not the only reason that a Jew goes to war and that is not the only reason that the Maccabees went to war.
Jewish sovereignty in the land of Israel is something that a Jew fights for. It has been since the time of Joshua. It was true for the Maccabees and it is true today!
That is point # 1.
My second comes from the parsha. The mentality of the galus Jew begins in our parsha. The brothers need food and can only find it elsewhere. They are in need of the other, a foreign power. They are subject to the whims and mercy of foreign rulers.
They find the money in their sacks and they are petrified.
בראשית פרק מב
כח) וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֶל־אֶחָיו֙ הוּשַׁ֣ב כַּסְפִּ֔י וְגַ֖ם הִנֵּ֣ה בְאַמְתַּחְתִּ֑י וַיֵּצֵ֣א לִבָּ֗ם וַיֶּֽחֶרְד֞וּ אִ֤ישׁ אֶל־אָחִיו֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר מַה־זֹּ֛את עָשָׂ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים לָֽנוּ
They find the goblet in Binyamin’s sack and have no recourse but to throw themselves on the mercy of the court.
בראשית פרק מד
טז) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוּדָ֗ה מַה־נֹּאמַר֙ לַֽאדֹנִ֔י מַה־נְּדַבֵּ֖ר וּמַה־נִּצְטַדָּ֑ק הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים מָצָא֙ אֶת־עֲוֹ֣ן עֲבָדֶ֔יךָ הִנֶּנּ֤וּ עֲבָדִים֙ לַֽאדֹנִ֔י גַּם־אֲנַ֕חְנוּ גַּ֛ם אֲשֶׁר־נִמְצָ֥א הַגָּבִ֖יעַ בְּיָדֽוֹ
For almost two thousand years that has been the galus plight of the Jew. We never controlled our own destiny and at some level we were subject to the whims of the host country and their ruler.
That mentality I believe persists in today’s Diaspora communities despite the fact that we are a sovereign nation in our land with a capable army to protect us.
In response to the fear of reprisal argument I would say the following.
There is no question that loss of life (on both sides) should be a factor in decisions made regarding the state of Israel.
That being said – we have to declare and believe that Israel, sovereignty and Jerusalem are worth fighting for. As Jews and religious Zionists we must value Yerushalayim, our control of Jerusalem and international recognition of that reality.
And we should not be paralyzed into inaction or make decisions because we are afraid. Fear of reprisals is natural and normal. Concern for human life is one of the highest values in Judaism.
All of that being said – the Jew in 2017 can shed the galus mentality, we have to recognize and appreciate and thank Hashem that we have returned to our land and have the ability to defend that land and its people.
We are living the modern day Chanuka miracle. It is time lehodot elehallel, and focus on Jerusalem!
