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27 Kislev 5762 - December 12, 2001 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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Opinion & Comment
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Miss-Yovon, Miss America -- or the Pach Shemen Tohor?

by J. Bilgrei

Today, more than ever, we are at risk of being overcome by the appeal of the misyavnim. The Greeks, as opposed to all our other enemies, did not seek to destroy the Bais Hamikdosh. All they wanted to do was to emphasize its structural beauty as a manmade artistic edifice and eliminate all spiritual elements by removing Hashem from its midst.

Their goal was to rip out the heart, all spiritual attachment, and revel in its outward shell of wisdom and culture. To be impressed by the trappings, style and human intelligence. The Greeks, as the Americans today, believed in G-d. But because of their inability to humble themselves to accept truths beyond their scope of knowledge, they chose to proclaim that G-d, after creating the world, had retired to heavenly lofts and left the world for mankind to control and develop independently. All progress was, therefore, dependent on man's intellect and power.

Likewise, the American dream of opportunity for all men to determine their wealth, success and happiness according to their efforts, is actually a continuation of the Greek philosophy idolizing control by man. The success of technological advancement and scientific inventions is attributed to man's greatness.

The truth of Hashgocho protis personified by the Jewish way of life is the antithesis to the Greek ideal. They could not tolerate mitzvos such as Shabbos, mila, and rosh chodesh that represent not only the idea that spirituality is an integral part of life, but even more so, the fact that Jews attest to the fact that there is only Hakodosh Boruch Hu and even the physical sphere is just a tool to glorify His Name, thereby unifying heaven and earth in the proclamation of "Hashem echod."

Their main battle, however, was against the Torah shebe'al peh, which requires humbling oneself to accept concepts that are beyond comprehension because of the realization that human intellect is far inferior to Divine knowledge. The Torah shebichsav is coded in a way that leaves room for misinterpretation, whereas the Torah shebe'al peh dictates practical applications which obligate one to conform. The Greeks could not admit their limitations, could not accept that which they could not understand. They therefore sought to destroy involvement in this Torah.

Hundreds of years before the Chashmonaim, it was Yaakov Ovinu who prepared the foundation for our victory. In parshas Vayishlach, when Yaakov Ovinu recrossed the Yabok River to retrieve some forgotten vessels, the Torah relates, "Vayivoseir Yaakov levado."

The Beer Moshe reveals that "vayivoseir" actually signifies the spiritual conquest that Yaakov Ovinu perfected. "Vayivoseir" can be derived from the root "nosar" -- superfluous. Yaakov Ovinu paved the way for all future success by succumbing totally through utter humility, realizing that there is no other existence but Hashem and that even Yaakov Ovinu, as an independent being, was totally superfluous.

All great qualities and accomplishment are a gift from Hashem. Thereafter, Yaakov Ovinu forged his middas ho'anovoh into a physical souvenir of pure shemen zayis by levado, whose Hebrew letters are related to a beis habad where olive oil is manufactured. These first drops of olive oil, saturated with the trait of utter submission, were sealed as the pach shemen later discovered by the Chashmonaim hundreds of years later, untainted by the Greeks' pursuit to defile all that was pure. It was this olive oil that burned consecutively for eight days, miraculously, proving that it is only Divine intervention that effects any results.

When Yaakov Ovinu had perfected this trait, suddenly the angel of Eisov, the yetzer hora, or the Mal'ach Hamoves, struck up a battle with Yaakov Ovinu. They fought through the spiritual challenges of shmad, Communism, democracy and materialism, until alos hashachar, the times of Moshiach -- and Yaakov Ovinu won. "Vayar ki lo yochol lo," then he saw that he could not overpower him.

Therefore, in one last attempt to make an inroad to destroy Am Yisroel and shake them from their belief in Hakodosh Boruch Hu and attachment to Torah, vayiga bekaf yereicho, he struck his thigh. The yetzer hora cunningly gave one last blow and succeeded in harming Am Yisroel in a most dangerous manner that left Yaakov Ovinu limping. In fact, until this day we are sagging under this blow.

What brilliant idea did the yetzer hora have to disconnect the Jews from Hakodosh Boruch Hu in order to destroy the foundations on which the world exists?

Every limb has a parallel spiritual trait that it represents. The kaf hayerech depicts middas hahod, awesome glory. The source of all beauty and intricate art is Hakodosh Boruch Hu, who created it. The Jews, through this trait of hod, are meant to reveal and refer all brilliant, striking and breathtaking creations to their true Source, Hakodosh Boruch Hu.

Why is beauty necessary? Beauty is what appeals to us and draws our heart to seek closeness. The awesome creation is meant to create an attraction to seek connection with its Master Artist, Hakodosh Boruch Hu. Beauty generates enthusiasm and devotion. As soon as we suffered this devastating blow to misconstrue the trait of hod, it caused a lack of appeal and desire for serving Hashem. Instead of referring beauty to its true Source, the Greeks introduced an alternative: to revel in external beauty, extolling man's greatness and creativity. The Beis Hamikdosh signified to them nothing more than a stunning work of art, devoid of its inner true beauty, its heart.

Many Jews also became intoxicated with beautification of man and enthralled by human accomplishment. They became self- centered, lavishing much attention to their attire and style, to develop their physical attributes to glorify themselves. This distracted them from their dedication to serving Hashem, thus began the era of the misyavnim.

The Chashmonaim were Cohanim. Aharon Hacohen personified the true middas hahod, which means that all beauty is meant to glorify Hashem. The clothes of the Cohanim were beautiful, intricate masterpieces, signifying that the place for beauty was in the Beis Hamikdosh to reveal Hashem as the Source of beauty. Therefore, it was precisely the Cohanim who organized the battle against the mighty Greek empire.

The strategy was one founded by Yaakov Ovinu of utter humility and submission to Hashem's omniscience and omnipotence. If we fight relying only on Hashem's Divine power, then success is possible even for a handful of citizens against the sophisticated army of a superpower. The victory of the Chashmonaim symbolized our inherent power in any subsequent conflict.

"Vayiga bekaf yereicho" -- these words hint to our eternal victory. Vayiga has the same numerical value as Chanukah. On that day of Chanukah, we learned the secret through the bekaf, which backwards reads bepach, the flask of oil that Yaakov Ovinu prepared through the trait of humility, referring all power and greatness only to Hakodosh Boruch Hu. To be blinded by man's strength and extol his virtues brings inevitable destruction. To realize our true limitations and express utter dependence on Hashem leads to victory.

The miraculous lights returned the focus to the Heart of the world. Who runs every functioning detail continuously. They proved that those who reveal this hidden truth and act upon it can merit supernatural success. The miracle occurred specifically via the lights of the Menora which was what spread insight into the Torah shebe'al peh. Since mastering the Torah shebe'al peh depends on incorporating Divine comprehension, the Menorah, which revealed the true light of the world, assisted all in clarifying deep concepts. It was the victory of the Torah shebe'al peh.

The beauty of the magnificent Creation is not meant as an end to itself; it is a means to reveal its inner truth and attract its spectators to draw close and desire connection with its Creator.

The message of Chanukah is hinted in the Torah. The 25th word of the Torah is ohr, in the posuk, vayehi ohr. The creation of light on the first day was not sunlight, which was created on the fourth day. This light was a brilliant light revealing Hashem's glory, which shone for 36 hours until Hashem created the sun and thereafter hid His glory to benefit only the tzadikim who are worthy.

This supernatural light, revealing truth, was hidden in the 36 Chanukah candles in eight days that correspond exactly to the 36 hours.

Vayiga bekaf yereicho -- we suffered a terrible blow, that in the era preceding the alos hashachar, the coming of Moshiach, Am Yisroel is distracted and dazzled by the external beauty of the secular lifestyle idolizing man's physique and progress. But the miracle of Chanukah unfolds the only path to true success by penetrating the misleading trappings and uncovering the inner Source of true beauty and success.

The place for intellect and beauty is to glorify and serve Hashem according to His desire to reveal His awesome Presence. Humility and tznius are the formula for the miraculous olive oil manufactured by Yaakov Ovinu, our tools for endless victory.

Our Chanukah candles proclaim our eternal message that is meant for each of us to absorb and incorporate. The true Light of the world is Hashem echod, and all who devote themselves to functioning solely on this truth of living with the reality of Hashem's oneness, where we have no other independent existence other than fulfilling His will, undoubtedly will merit the supernatural bliss with the coming of Moshiach.


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