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Ein Ayah: The contamination of the oil represents the harming of the characteristics and philosophies, the most extreme calamity that affected the essence of the Jewish nation, which befell it when the Greeks ruled. The Greeks weakened the belief in such basics as the unity of Hashem. However, just as a kohen’s status indicates that he is to teach the laws of the Torah and sanctity to the nation, so too every Jew has an element of kehuna within him, as a member of the "kingdom of priests." The inclination for a life of sanctity, Torah knowledge, and its fulfillment is hidden in the depths of the Jewish heart. We have explained that the idea behind the owner eating ma’aser sheni in holy surroundings is the idea of inspiring every Jew to find his soul’s priestly element.
The element of kehuna that encompasses a Jew’s activities throughout life was susceptible to being defiled by the Greeks. However, deeper in the heart dwells the light of the Jewish soul, which connects to the basic belief in Hashem, the G-d of Israel, and the strong desire to cling to the vestiges of his religion despite all pressure. This sacred part of the Jewish soul is parallel to the Kohen Gadol’s entrance into the Holy of Holies to serve on the holy day on which we are separated from the physical world. That small flask with the Kohen Gadol’s seal was impervious to Greek impurity. In other words, the most powerful men could not uproot from Israel their inner connection to Hashem, as is written (Shir Hashirim 8:7): "Great waters could not extinguish the love, and rivers could not wash it away."
However, when the flask is small, i.e., when the belief is hidden well and does not exhibit its existence in regard to one’s practical life, it is difficult for it to survive. After all, life has gone in a direction that is contradictory to this belief. Thus, the flame could be extinguished under the pile of burnt out materials that prevent it from spreading. This is the wonder of the special concealed light. Even when it encounters a lifestyle and philosophies that are antithetical to it and the person is unaware of the light within him, it is not extinguished. Hashem will arrange a reawakening of the nation that He chose and the spark will lead a process that will uproot the foreign influences that threatened to choke and extinguish it. The growing flame will spread among the hearts of Bnei Yisrael and return them to their Father in Heaven. This will prevail until the powers of practical life, which already are following a Torah lifestyle, will revive Israel and return the people’s light until the present era ends and a new light will shine over Zion, through the geula shleima.
At the time of the great confusion caused by the Greeks, whose lifestyle spread throughout Eretz Yisrael, leaving just a spark deep in the hearts of Israel, the flask of oil characterized the situation. Indeed, there was oil that survived, pure with the kohen gadol’s seal. The question was whether that oil would be able to provide light, when it was not supported by enough other oil, i.e., proper Jewish lifestyles. Ostensibly the oil could only last for one day, i.e., for the direct period in which the reawakening had occurred. Without a connection to practical observance, it would certainly die down. However, there was a miracle, and the light of belief in Hashem did not leave His people. Even without preparation for strong observance, it lasted for eight days. This hints at the long period until that future day when knowledge of Hashem will fill the world like the waters cover the ocean bed (see Yeshaya 11:9)
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The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
