Since 1924
the Maccabees to perform the miracles
of Jewish survival. That means that we
will all have to work together to cele-
brate a "New Chanukah," one which
will sustain our generation, as the
heroic feats of Judah and his followers
sustained theirs.
Views abound as to precisely what it
is that Chanukah celebrates. I would
suggest that, in large measure,
Chanukah celebrates the spirit of
man, that spirit which impels him to
sacrifice on account of an ideal; that
faith which makes him reckless of
odds and determines to fight to
achieve that which seems impossible
and the so-called miracle is achieved.
When we study that period in
Jewish history, two things become
crystal clear. The Maccabees were
ordinary people. There is no indica-
tion that they were in any way excep-
tional, save in their achievements. Nor
were these Maccabees saints. They
were very much like all of us. All
those petty concerns, which occasion-
ally exercise us, exercised them as well.
Yet they arrived on the scene of
Jewish history and stepped into a
breach. And they stepped into that
breach with skill and with zeal. They
were committed to the triumph of the
Jewish cause — that cause which rest-
ed on Jewish faith, Jewish will and
Jewish determination to remain loyal
to Torah. Practically speaking, the
Maccabees would- not have been suc-
cessful, militarily or politically, with-
out having been able to place their
actions and their programs within the
larger context of the covenant between
God and the people of Israel.
The lesson of Chanukah is that
ordinary men and women, when they
are prepared to use the knowledge and
skills they possess in the service of the
Jewish people, can literally accomplish
great things.
It reminds us that even a tiny minori-
ty can make its impact felt when it is
fully committed to its cause. The aged
priest of Modin and his sons did not
engage in a campaign of guerilla warfare
for the sake of winning fame for their
military exploits. They risked death at
the hands of their powerful Hellenic
adversaries because they believed in their
purpose. When Mattathias challenged,
"Whosoever is zealous for the Law, fol-
low me!" he demanded complete com-
•
mitment. In our own time, when most
of us look for extenuating circumstances
to avoid the demands of our faith, we
have never more sorely needed the
Chanukah summons: "Therefore, be
Strong, and show yourselves, individuals
on behalf of the law!" This is the mes-
sage of Chanukah. It was captured by
Zachariah's vision: "Not by force and
not by strength but by My spirit, saith -
the Lord of Hosts." 0
—Rabbi David A. Nelson is affiliated
with Congregation Beth Shalom in Oak
Park. He is chaplain to many local
police agencies in Metropolitan Detroit
SHAPERO from page 5
1. The seven celestial luminaries
associated with the names of the days
of the week: Sun, Moon, Mars,
Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn.
2. The seven Mosaic holidays of the
Jewish calendar: Passover (days 1 and
7,) Shavuot, Rosh Hashana, Yom
Kippur, Succot, and Shemini Atzeret.
3. The seven physical gateways into
the soul: 2 eyes, 2 ears, 2 nostrils, and
the mouth.
While the number 7 represents a
completed cycle within space, time
and human perception, 8 (coinciden-
tally the symbol for infinity?) is associ-
ated with events that break out of a
closed physical loop into the transcen-
dent. Circumcision on the eighth day
after birth signifies G-d's eternal
. covenant with the Jewish People, and
an animal may be brought as an offer-
ing only after eight days, transforming
its physical existence into timeless spir-
itual energy. Hellenism, with its deter-
ministic and materialistic view of exis-
tence, is limited to the discovery of the
innate order and beauty of the world.
Judaism; promoting personal autono-
my and moral responsibility for life-
times of unimaginable potential, offers
the equivalent of converting a single
day's oil into eight days of illumina-
don, bridging from the seven-
branched reality into a loftier integra-
tion of space and time with the life of
the spirit: the eighth branch.
—Rabbi David Shapero is affliated
with Ohr Somayach Detroit in
Southfield.
,
fv-1—
We make everyone Happy!
This year, the need is greater...so...make her happy and
warm this season with a new fur...of course...from:
Special Prices Always!
GOD BLESS AMERICA
Fur Labeled For Origin
248-642-3775
Birmingham
across from the Townsend Hotel
HoktALAV-lcokk NnelitAs Decem\ner 22v td,
Our um-Lc:lute cookie otprothoetmehi-s say
"HAPPY liAtiV144AVi n
ih ot.
delicious, dken3ki--Puti 'woky.
Light up the faces of
your special friends
and relatives during
the Festival of
Lights. Say Happy
Hanukkah with our
unique and delicious cookies. Place
your holiday orders early.
Coolcief!
Say
C tries by Design ®
TWO LOCATIONS CERTIFIED KOSHER TO SERVE YOU!
Certified Kosher by Council Kashruth Supervision
Simsbury Plaza • 33250 W. 14 Mile • West Bloomfield • (248) 539-4029
In Southfield • 29211 Southfield Road N. of 12 Mile • (248) 483-9502
Hours: M-F 9-6, Sat 9-3
Master Card
.17-01
ko's`.
WE DELIVER!
www.cookiebouquet.com • www.cookiesbydesign.com
11/23
2001
a7