Spiritual Surrender - Part 7

“Modern Maccabee”

With Rabbi Ari Sollish

Recorded live at The Torah Center ATL on Sunday, December 10, 2023

It's the story we all know. The short version is, "they tried to kill us, we won, let's eat." The longer version is that the Syrian Greeks tried to squeeze Judaism out of the Jew, the Jewish people miraculously defeated a much stronger enemy, and then a little oil burned for a lot longer than it should.

Here's what I think. I think we know this story so well, that we stop asking the critical questions. Like, why do we make such a big deal about the oil, when the military victory seems like the main feature? Or, why were the Jews so bent on kindling the menorah with pure olive oil, when any oil would have worked at that point? Or why do all Jews observe the mitzvah of Chanukah in the most extreme way, by lighting the menorah with ascending lights?

There's a lot about this story that we take for granted. But we shouldn't. Because in these details, in these questions, lie profound insights into the very nature of Judaism and our relationship with G-d. Lessons that teach us so much about the art of spiritual surrender.

In this special Chanukah edition of Kabbalah Café we examine the story of Chanukah through the lens of Kabbalah, and come away with incredible gifts of wisdom and inspiration.