Short Vort:
Unleashing a Chanukah Miracle
On Chanukah, we celebrate not just one miracle but several. In fact, in the second blessing on our candles we explicitly refer to the "many miracles" of this day ("Nisim"). Which ones, then, are we supposed to keep in mind?
While miraculous oil and military victories receive great fanfare, we often overlook an important footnote of the story-line. Despite the deliberate defilement of every vestige of sanctity, there somehow remained a small uncontaminated cruse of oil with the seal of the High Priest.
Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Kook zt'l (1864-1935) explains that the preservation of this untouched oil represents the pure inner glint of our soul. The Hellenists sought to eradicate our faith. They defiled our Temple and introduced pagan worship in the Holy of Holies. Yet, one thing remained out of reach - our symbolic inner cruse of pure oil. The hidden cruse represents the power within our soul to break free and transcend all physical constraints.
On Chanukah, we celebrate how we are endowed with a pure inner spark of the Almighty that knows no bounds. This Sunday, dig deep, find that little cruse, and unleash a Chanukah miracle!
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Daniel Green
