Chanukah - Al Hanisim 5769
Rabbi Chananya Moshe Berzon

Former Rabbi of the Young Israel of Chomedy, Canada

Towards the conclusion of the Amida, there is a section titled Hodaa- Thanksgiving. On two occasions, Purim and Chanuka, we add special thanks by reciting the Al Hanisim, for the miracles that Hashem bestowed upon us at these times. Let us peruse the Al Hanisim to see if it imparts to us some insight into the holiday of Chanuka.

After the introductory verse, we then go to the specific section for either festive occasion, Purim or Chanuka. The style of the format is similar. There is background, mentioning the era and the trouble facing the Jews at that point in time. Then it states that You in Your great mercy saved them, Purim in its way and Chanuka in its way. However, after detailing the miracle of Chanuka, the paragraph continues and states: Thereafter, Your children came to the Holy of Holies of Your House, cleansed Your Temple, purified the site of Your Holiness and kindled lights in the Courtyards of Your Sanctuary; and they established these eight days of Chanuka to express thanks and praise to Your great name (Artscroll translation).

One may ask: These concluding verses are not part of the miracle. The description of the miracle should have concluded with the success of the revolt of the Hasmoneans over the Greeks. The remainder of Al Hanisim appears out of place in the Al Hanisim in particular and the Thanksgiving (Hodaa) section of the Amida. No doubt, what the Jews did subsequent to the miracle of the successful rebellion against tyranny is essential. But it unquestionably is not a component of the miracle.

One might venture to say that the words of "kindled lights" and "eight days of Chanuka" is alluding to the miracle of the holy pure oil lasting miraculously for eight days rather than one. Therefore, it too is a miracle, and has its proper place in Al Hanisim. The question may be posed ; so declare the oil miracle plainly and straightforwardly!! Why just a hint, " and they kindled lights", if you want to offer thanks for Hashem's miracle, be straight forward?

To support the proposition that the concluding verses of Chanuka seem to be out of place, let us contrast it to Purim, its partner in Al Hanisim. Concerning Purim it simply concludes with "and they hanged him and his sons on the gallows". No mention is made of the follow-up of the hanging of Haman and his sons. For that is the end of the Purim miracle for which we thank Hashem in the Hodaa blessing with Al Hanisim. The Megillah details what happened following the death of Haman and his partners in crime. It mentions the celebration, gifts to friends, charity, and Mordechai's political position. All this has no place in the Al Hanisim. Therefore it does not appear there. So, why insert in the paragraph of Chanuka, all the details following the miracle of Hashem directing the Hasmoneans rebellion?

The answer, I am convinced, directs us to a deep understanding of the story facing the Jews of each epoch – Purim and Chanuka.

The Purim saga sees the enemy attempting to kill all the Jews – L'Hashmid V'Laharog. The miracle was the destruction of our enemies – Haman and his cohorts. Once that was miraculously accomplished, the story has ended. As I once heard, the theme of the holiday is" They attempted to kill us. We won. Let's eat!"

Chanuka views a more complex problem facing our People. It was not just the Yevanim overrunning the Holy Land, capturing the Holy Temple and defiling it. If that were the singular theme of Chanuka, our recapturing the Bet Ha'Mikdash, would have been the end of the story.

Something else concerned them. The Hasmoneans were overwhelmed by the number of Mit'Yavnim. There were so many Jews who had assimilated into the non-Jewish pagan lifestyle of the Greeks, forsaking any sign and vestige of Judaism. What occupied Mattithias, the Macabians, their children and miniscule band of rebels, was more than conquering the Greeks and chasing them out of the Holy Temple and the Holy Land, and reinstating Jewish independence.

They were worried and uncertain if the Jewish majority would "return to the fold". Can they win them over in a battle for their souls? Would they see the miraculous victory of the Hasmoneans over the Greeks as a wakeup call to return to the lifestyle of their forefathers? If this could be accomplished then it would be a true miracle with lasting value. Lo and behold, Baruch Hashem, this is exactly what emerged. Many Jews with immense pride and pleasure, returned to Torah true values and practices.

They saw the miracle of Hashem saving them. They understood there was a purpose and goal for their being saved and achieving independence. The great miracle was a success. That is what the Al Hanisim for Chanuka states in its final sentences. That is why they purified the Temple, lit candles, and established these eight days of Chanuka to express thanks and praise to Your great name. The Al Hanisim does not state that the Hasmoneans entered the Temple. It says Banecha. Hashem, Your children – if not all of Jewry, surely a very large proportion of our People, entered the Temple, sanctified it and lit candles in the Courtyard. The Jewish People established eight days of Chanuka to express thanks and praise Your great name.

As observant Jews, we pray for the achievement of peace, security, prosperity, and tranquility for our People throughout the world, but especially in Israel. However, our prayers are also for a more sublime response from Hashem. We implore Hashem that His unique protection of Am Yisrael will bring us closer to Him, His Torah, and His Chosen People. Amen