Light Amidst Tragedy: By Rabbi Yerachmiel D. Fried
Dear Students and Friends,
I was asked by a student in Dallas: how could he possibly celebrate the holiday of Chanukah joyously with the backdrop of such unspeakable tragedy in the Jewish community in Sydney?
This is a question that Jews are undoubtedly struggling with throughout the world this Chanukah, especially since this tragedy was directly connected to the celebration of Chanukah.
The answer to this question is something which spans the entire history of our Galus, the period of exile in which we have lived for the past millennia. It is our unshakeable belief in the Eternity of the Jewish people, promised by G-d, “netzach Yisrael lo yeshaker”, (1 Samuel, 15:29), “G-d will never forsake the eternity of Israel”.
This belief has brought the Jews through the worst trials and tribulations, which defy the imagination, for thousands of years. It is the core of the haunting song, “mir vellen zey iberloiben, Hakadosh Baruch Hu”, “we will outlive them, Master of the Universe”, composed and sung by Jews in the death camps in the midst of the holocaust.
Eternity doesn’t simply mean we will always be. Its deeper meaning is that the Jewish people are above time! G-d, who created time, is eternal and not time-bound. His nation, Klal Yisrael, bound to the Creator, are elevated by Him to be above and beyond the shackles of time; a timeless, eternal nation.
For that reason, the nations of the world, who exist within time, cannot destroy us. They rise up, make a lot of noise, and disappear into the dustbin of history while we carry on proudly.
This profound message of eternity – our existence above time – is what gave the holy Jews of Auschwitz the superhuman inner strength to dance joyously on Simchas Torah. The death and destruction surrounding them was transient, only the Torah is eternal and their connection to it catapulted them beyond their surroundings, to connect them to eternity.
This is the message of the “Maoz Tzur” hymn sung during the kindling of the Chanukah candles. We sing of the rise and fall of each civilization, beginning with Egypt, which exiled the Jews throughout our history. It ends with a prayer for the Al-mighty to “bear His outstretched arm and redeem us, once and for all, from the exile we now live in. “We will outlive them, Master of the Universe”, and we have!
Chanukah is a holiday which represents the diaspora We perform its key mitzvah, the candles, during winter nights. Night, darkness, signifies the diaspora, when G-d seems hidden from us. Winter is the time when the nights are longer than the days, the darkness seems to overcome the light.
It is during the long winter nights that the Jewish people kindle small lights, remembering the Temple menorah – which was the light of Torah. Our connection to the light of Torah transcends the darkness and connects us to eternity.
The light of the menorah, explain the Kabbalists, is the light of the original creation (Ohr Haganuz), which preceded the creation of the sun and moon. That is the eternal Light which is above time and physicality. It was hidden after creation until the righteous will merit to bask in that Light in the world to come. Pinpoints of that Light are revealed throughout history, whenever G-d performs a miracle, giving us a connection to that light. Our relationship to that light connects us to eternity and the joy of transcendence.
All this shows us that we cannot allow our joy on Chanukah to be mitigated in the least bit, even by such a tragedy. Clearly, we must mourn along with them fully, their tragedy is a tragedy for us all. At the same time, we must find it within us to compartmentalize that mourning so that the joy of the holiday remains intact. Experiencing a dichotomy of emotions is a very Jewish trait! For it is precisely our joyous celebration of Chanukah and singing Maoz Tzur – our sincere and heartfelt expression of our Emunah in Hashem’s promise – which defeats our enemies!
As we approach the final night of Chanukah, known as “zos Chanukah”, the holiest day of this period, let us joyously sing Maoz Tzur when we light the final candle. Despite our intense pain, this song remains for us a message of healing, hope, and profound joy. By doing so, may we soon merit the fulfillment of the final stanza, “veyakeim lanu ro’ai shiva”, revealing our past leaders who will lead us to the final redemption and messianic times for all eternity. May it be fulfilled speedily and in our days.
With much hope for a bright future for Klal Yisrael,
Rabbi Yerachmiel Fried
Rosh Kollel Ohr Hashemesh, Beit Shemesh, Israel
kollelohs.org
Founding Rosh Kollel of DATA, Dallas
