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Why did the Greeks ruin the oil?

by Rabbi Naftali Silberberg

  

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“What is Chanukah? ...when the Greeks entered the Sanctuary [of the Holy Temple] they defiled all the oil therein. When the royal house of the Hashmoneans overpowered [the enemy], they searched and found only one jug of oil which was sealed with the signet ring of the High Priest...”.1

Imagine the invading Greek army entering the Holy Temple where gold, silver and precious stones were everywhere to be found and searching for the... oil! Moreover, they weren’t out to pillage or destroy the oil; they merely defiled it, rendering it invalid for use in kindling the Menorah.

According to Chassidic teachings, there was a profound reason why the Greeks were so bent on defiling the oil – so deep, in fact, that the Greeks themselves did not understand why they had such a powerful inner urge to do this unholy task.

Let’s back up a little and discuss the nature of the ancient Greeks and their occupation of the Land of Israel:

The Hellenists idolized the human body and consequently were very involved in athletics and nudity. But most of all they cherished man’s greatest faculty – the mind. They worshipped all intellectual pursuits, and especially philosophy. Plato, Aristotle and Socrates were all products of the Greek culture, as well as Aeschylus, Herodotus, Pythagoras and so many more.

For this reason, the Greeks didn’t have a problem with Torah per se. In fact, as intelligent people, they treasured the Torah, recognizing that it is a gem full of wisdom. “For [the Torah] is your wisdom and discernment in the eyes of the nations, who shall hear all these decrees [of the Torah] and say, ‘Surely a wise and discerning people is this great nation!’”.2 In fact, the Talmud tells us,3 that the first translation of the Torah (after the times of Moses) was commissioned by a Greek king, Ptolemy Philadelphus.

The Hellenists... loved the logic of the Torah, but objected to the holiness the Jews attributed to it.
This was also true concerning the majority of the mitzvahs. The inherent beauty of the mitzvahs is plain to the eyes of the objective beholder, and the Greeks were great admirers of beauty.

What got the Greeks hopping mad was the fact that Jews didn’t view the Torah as a piece of art or wisdom. The Hellenists simply could not accept the chukim—those commandments which have no rational reason, but which we do simply because G-d has so commanded us. They loved the logic of the Torah, but objected to the holiness the Jews attributed to it. Indeed, they would have been perfectly content for the Jews to study Torah as an intellectual pursuit, just as one studies mathematics or the sciences. Their mantra was, “by all means study Torah, but forget about the Giver of the Torah.”

That was their initial attitude of the Greeks upon conquering the land of Israel. It was only after they saw that Jews weren’t willing to sacrifice the holiness of Torah that they set out on their campaign of death and destruction.

According to Kabbalah, oil (especially olive oil) represents chochmoh (wisdom). Just as oil rises to the top of all other fluids, so too wisdom is the most lofty of all human qualities. And while all wisdom is oil, only the Torah is pure, holy oil. True to their philosophy, the Greeks made sure to defile all the holy oil on which they could lay their impure hands, signifying what they thought to be the demise of the holiness of the Torah.

When the Jews fought back and won, it is quite clear that their victory would have been quite incomplete had they been compelled to use impure oil. Instead G-d performed a miracle, demonstrating His love for us and His appreciation for the battle we waged on behalf of His holy Torah.

The above is merely a small sampling of what Chassidic teaching offers about this special holiday. If you would really like to enrich your Chanukah, we advise you to find your local Chabad rabbi, and beg him to teach you some chassidic discourses about Chanukah (or on any subject...).4

Footnotes

  • 1. Talmud, Shabbat 22b.
  • 2. Deuteronomy 4:6.
  • 3. Megillah 9a.
  • 4. Sefer Ham'amarim 5701 p. 58.

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Torah
Torah is G–d’s teaching to man. In general terms, we refer to the Five Books of Moses as “The Torah.” But in truth, all Jewish beliefs and laws are part of the Torah.
Talmud
Usually referring to the Babylonian edition, it is a compilation of Rabbinic law, commentary and analysis compiled over a 600 year period (200 BCE - 427 CE). Talmudic verse serves as the bedrock of all classic and modern-day Torah-Jewish literature.
Chanukah
An eight day mid-winter holiday marking: 1) The miraculous defeat of the mighty Syrian-Greek armies by the undermanned Maccabis in the year 140 BCE. 2) Upon their victory, the oil in the Menorah, sufficient fuel for one night only, burned for eight days and nights.
Chassidic
(Pl.: Chassidim; Adj.: Chassidic) A follower of the teachings of Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov (1698-1760), the founder of "Chassidut." Chassidut emphasizes serving G-d with sincerity and joy, and the importance of connecting to a Rebbe (saintly mentor).
Kabbalah
Jewish mysticism. The word Kaballah means "reception," for we cannot physically perceive the Divine, we merely study the mystical truths which were transmitted to us by G-d Himself through His righteous servants.
Moses
[Hebrew pronunciation: Moshe] Greatest prophet to ever live. Led the Jews out of Egyptian bondage amidst awesome miracles; brought down the Tablets from Mount Sinai; and transmitted to us word-for-word the Torah he heard from G-d's mouth. Died in the year 1272 BCE.
Menorah
Candelabra. Usually a reference to the nine-branched candelabra kindled on the holiday of Chanukah.
Temple
1. Usually a reference to the Holy Temple which was/will be situated in Jerusalem. 1st Temple was built in 825 BCE and was destroyed in 423 BCE. The 2nd Temple was built in 350 BCE and was destroyed in 70 CE. The 3rd Temple will be built by the Messiah. 2. A synagogue.
G-d
It is forbidden to erase or deface the name of G-d. It is therefore customary to insert a dash in middle of G-d's name, allowing us to erase or discard the paper it is written on if necessary.