If you could not attend the Yom Iyun—or did attend it but
want to relive the experience—we are now delighted to be able to share with you
the links to the five presentations. They are as follows:
“The flames of history and the light of destiny”, Rabbi Yaakov Glaser here
“Chanuka—a celebration of the power of Torah”, Rabbi Anthony Manning here
“Service and sacrifice—the heroism in life and death of Maoz Morell”, Eitan and Varda Morell here
“Total victory? The miracle and meaning of Chanuka”, Rabbi Joel Kenigsberg here
Rabbi Berel Wein’s closing remarks here
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Since posting the above, we have received a personal account by our member Pessy Krausz, who attended Gevura. She shares with us the following impressions:
Rabbi Joel Konigsberg, opening this event before an eager
audience of participants in our increasingly packed hall, commented that, in
contrast to other festivals, we celebrate Chanukah during the darkest, coldest
nights of the year. We celebrate our progression out of the darkness of living
under pressure to assimilate, into the light of our victory of resistance.
Finally to find pure oil after an arduous hunt for it was like receiving a kiss
from Hashem. And we too felt our hearts touched by inexplicable miracles in our
Swords of Iron wartime situation.
Rabbi Yaacov Glaser followed with a lively presentation
backed by a superb handout, The Menorah of Chanukah: The Flames of history
& the Light of Destiny. He commented on Aaron’s special role in lighting
the Menorah and focused on it as a transcendental, universal symbol. On Pesach
we are defensive, running away from enemies; on Shavuot we accept the Torah.
Then on Chanukah we show how we initiate. Refusing to accept our Temple’s
defilement, we courageously search for pure oil. Small wonder then, that Israel
bravely does not accept what others impose on us.
Rabbi Anthony Manning, backed by a well-researched handout,
Halachic and Hashkafot Issues in Contemporary Society; Chanukah: a Celebration
of the Power of the Torah, opened a fascinating window into the Book of the
Maccabees. This work describes how the Jewish people, despite being so few in
number, were roused to face their many enemies, this being reminiscent of our
combat situation in the current Swords of Iron campaign. Chanukah is also a
time of transition from reliance on prophecy to the era of the Chachamim, our
Elers, achieving continuity while transmitting the ‘Light of the Torah’
throughout the generations.
Rabbi Berel Wein focused on the brave Nachum Gam Zu, whose name reflected his famous saying, “Gam Zu LeTovah” (“Even this is for the Good”). Maintaining this attitude though he experienced enormous physical suffering and the dangerously imminent arrival of brutal Roman soldiers. When faced with the likely collapse of his flimsy house, Nachum Gam Zu refused to leave saying, “While ever I am here there, my place will remain intact”. Rabbi Wein compared this to the security of Medinat Yisrael. While ever we are here, our country will remain intact. Most of the audience, being olim themselves, clearly share the view that we are partners in securing the safety of our beloved country.
Varda and Eitan Morell then movingly described the gevura of their son Staff Sargent Maoz Morell, who tragically succumbed to wounds sustained fighting in Gaza. Despite being a person of few words, he nevertheless left a heritage through his practical deeds. One of the sayings he had shared with soldiers under him one has been converted to a sticker that recalled the few calls his parents were able to make to him. His response (roughly translated from the Hebrew) was “All’s well with me – That’s it – My update!” Said his mother: “Maoz was killed as a hero fighting our enemies … because of people like him, going and doing what they need to be doing, they’re making sure that something like what happened with the Nazis will never be able to happen again”.
Indeed, “Never again”, the participants murmured.
In sum, this Yom Iyun has given us the courage to face traumatic events while being more aware than ever of the miracles of Chanukah. We’ll endure and win together with insight, Gevura and, dare we say, Latkes! L’Chaim! Am Yisrael Chai!
