Judaism :: A Small Miracle & a Lot of Love

According to the Gemarah in Shabbos 21:a (Rashi) the celebration of Chanukah was decreed because the oil, which was supposed tolast one day, lasted for eight days. But at the same time the Jews were saved from the total destruction of their spiritualvalues and the loss of their Torah in a very miraculous manner. Wasn't this a greater miracle?

Let's ask another question: Our Rabbis tell us that Josef also experienced a miracle as he was being brought down to Egypt bythe Yishmalim. They were carrying spices instead ofcarrying tar, so the that Josef would have a sweet smell as hetravelled. Josef was being brought as a slave to an inescapable place of impurity and decadence, did the spices really help him? Could they change his frame of mind at such a time of desperation?

The answer to the second question is yes! From these spicesJosef saw that G-d was still with him and he wasn't forgotten.These spices were a ray of light in the darkness and arevelation to Josef that it was G-d himself who was taking himto Egypt.

To answer the first question we need to understand that thepurpose of a miracle is to reveal G-d's involvement ("the lightof his face")in a given situation. It does not matter what thesize of the miracle is, the main thing is that we see that G-dis with us. We know that a father loves his child not so muchbecause he provides for his simple and basic needs but rather bythe extra and special things which he gives his children. Surelythe smaller miracle of Chanukah was that we were able tocontinue the mitzvah of lighting the menorah, but because it wassmaller it revealed Hashem's love for us in a greater way. Itwas this small light of the menorah which announced to the worldHashem's burning love for his chosen people. Based on Sichot Mussar

About the Author:

Rabbi Eliyahu Mitterhoff is the director of the Global Yeshiva Torah & Judaism Research Community. He envisions the Global Yeshiva as a great and unprecedented historic opportunity to share, learn, teach and spread Torah on a global level.