Living In the Glow of the Chanukah Lights All Year Long
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik
Once after the 1967 War the Rebbe said that we see hashgacha protis-divine providence more clearly in our times than in times past. In the War of 1967 there were open miracles. So too it’s possible to learn important open lessons from the current events of our times. We can use those lessons in the service of Hashem.
The Gemara says that we should believe that other nations have authentic wisdom (Chochma b’goyim taamin). We should not confuse their wisdom with the wisdom of the Torah. We should not believe that they have Torah. What’s the real difference between their wisdom and our Torah? The word Torah means ‘horah’ lesson or guidance that was given to us by Hashem. The Torah teaches us what is good and what is life and how not to do the opposite. Someone can excel in studying science at a University, but they do not teach him not to refrain from using that knowledge to build a bomb. A person can attend Medical School but who convinced him it’s wrong to use that knowledge to create a poison that harms others? The Torah is our guide and though learning and davening we are given the insight and strength to address all of life’s challenges and prevail for the good in all aspects.
There are those that feel we are out of touch with modernity with all of our dedication to the Torah. They say that we don’t get it, that we’re living back in the 19th Century. They say things like “Move on” “Get with it”. The truth is that we really are “With it” because we have “It”, We have the light and guidance of the Torah that keeps us on our way moving forward toward the ultimate goal. Just take a look and see what is happening all around us. Today the modern culture has not only become a slippery slope, it’s far worse. What happened to the fabric of our society? There was a time when there was a clear demarcation between right and wrong in the society at large. Nowadays where is the right and the wrong? Hamas are called freedom fighters instead of terrorists, killers of the police are dubbed mentally ill instead of assassins, and the perpetrators of stabbings in France are termed politically frustrated instead of murderers. They don’t point to the constant barrage of incitement emanating from the mosques and madrasas or from violent protests. Sometimes we don’t realize that we’re falling down a slippery slope until we reach the bottom.
After prayer was outlawed in schools the Rebbe campaigned for a moment of silence in its place. The Rebbe saw that when we take a moment to contemplate on there being an eye that sees and an ear that hears we act with responsibility and are aware of the difference between right and wrong. The world becomes civilized and ethical when the average American has a solid foundation gained from taking the time to reflect that there is an eye that sees and ear that hears. The Rebbe spoke out repeatedly about its vital importance for our future.
Today in America, most of the leadership went through the public school system, a system that did not have prayer at the beginning of the day. Therefore their conscience and concept of right and wrong has become obscured. What this teaches us is that we have to strengthen our connection to learning the Torah of Hashem and davening and keeping mitzvos. This keeps us the way we should be and prevents us from falling into the pit of the darkness of the exile. Chanukah teaches us not be afraid of darkness neither physical nor spiritual. Together with the light of the Torah and mitzvos we are able to push through the darkness. We light the menorah and we bring light to the world, our homes and our neshama. Through this we diminish the darkness until we tip the scales and illuminate the world with an atmosphere of goodness, kindness and simcha and ultimately we turn the darkness into light with the light of Moshiach Now.
A Good Shabbos!