A Chanukah thought:
The miracle of Chanukah has two aspects to it. The first, that the few Macabbes were able to defeat the mighty Greek army and regain and rededicate the Temple in Jerusalem enabling the Jews to regain their religious freedom. The second, that when rededicating the Temple the Kohanim found a flask of pure oil that had enough to last for one day and it miraculously lasted for eight days, the time necessary to obtain more pure oil.
On face value, the victory over the Greeks was a far greater miracle than the oil lasting eight days in the Temple. Miracles in the Temple were constantly happening. The Mishna in the Ethics of our Fathers teaches us that there were ten miracles that occurred in the Temple. I’ll list a few: The meat of sacrifices never became putrid even though they were exposed to the hot climate. Flies were never seen where the sanctified meat was butchered. Rains never extinguished the continuous fire on the outdoor Altar. Winds did not disturb the vertical column of smoke from the Altar.
Additionally, on the seven branched Menorah in the Temple itself, where all the cups were the same size and the amount of oil poured into each cup was the same, still one flame remained lit while all the others went out. In fact, from that remaining flame, the Menorah was lit each evening.
We see that miracles were experienced and witnessed in the Temple on a regular basis. So why, when our Sages instituted the Holiday of Chanukah did they emphasize the miracle of the oil rather than the seemingly more miraculous victory over the Greeks?
An answer that I heard recently is, yes, the miracle over the Greeks was necessary for the Jews to regain the Temple, but the finding of the flask of pure oil and that it lasted for eight days was indicative that G-d did not help the Jews through the victory over the Greeks just to regain His Temple. Rather, He did it out of love for us. He wanted us back and to begin and continue the services in the purest fashion.
It can be compared to a wife who bakes a birthday cake in honor of her husband, which is a nice gesture. However, if there is extra effort in decorating the cake it makes it that much meaningful.
The oil lasting was a loving gesture from G-d that He wanted the Jews back, not because He had to, rather because He wanted us to be there.
Our Sages recognized this and therefore established the Holiday with the blessings to be recited over the kindling of our Menorahs.
Another reason why the commemoration is on the oil rather than the victory at war.
There is a common phrase, “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” Meaning, that it isn’t worth getting upset or stressed about minor issues. There is an addendum to this phrase, “It’s all really small stuff.”
Yes, when we are challenged it is useful and helpful to review in our minds that in the realm of things, it is all small stuff, and we can then have an easier time dealing with the situation.
How about when we are presented with the flipside, when we have an opportunity to do something small for someone else or we have an opportunity to do a small Mitzvah towards G-d.
Our Sages may be teaching us that, yes, we miraculously won the war and that was a big wow! However, when they established the holiday, they chose the seemingly smaller of the two miracles so that we don’t ignore the small stuff. Because small gestures count. Better yet, if we were to look back at special and changing moments in our lives, we would most probably recall an encouraging word or nod that a parent, sibling, spouse, friend or teacher said to us.
We begin lighting the Menorah with one candle and each day we add another one. A little point of light illuminates and broadens one’s perspective to shine further and further. Think of it, amongst all miracles that occurred in the Temple on a daily basis, a onetime rather small miracle of the oil lasting eight days is commemorated each year on Chanukah and has endured for over 2200 years!
A thing to consider, “Don’t overlook performing or noticing the small stuff, for chances are they are what will be most lasting and impactful.”
