CHANUKA, AUSTRALIA & TODAY'S MITZVAH FOCUS | Rabbi Ari Shvat | Beit Midrash

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Our rabbis stress that every historical period has ONE PARTICULAR MITZVA, which takes upon special importance and through which that generation’s Torah and spirituality must be focused and expressed (e.g. R. Sh. N. Barazofsky, Netivot Shalom, Shmot, p. 152). As the Greeks in the story of Chanukah, at different stages in history, the evil decrees of the gentiles, for example outlawing: circumcision, mikveh, Kiddush haChodesh (the Jewish calendar), or the Roman forbidding the study of Torah- [although often motivated more by political or imperialistic aspirations rather than religious zeal (R. Kook, Resp. Mishpat Kohen, p. 354)]- force US to focus upon those particular mitzvot, even granting them the status of "ייהרג ואל יעבור" (obligating death rather than transgression) for that particular period (Rambam, Hil. Y’sodei HaaTorah 5, 3). Only when the Romans outlawed teaching Torah, was R. Akiva allowed and commanded to even give his life to do so (Brachot 61b). In short, the nations are G-d's MESSENGERs to help the Jews identify and focus what mitzvah we should STRESS in each particular generation.
The recent terror in Australia and in fact anti-Semitism throughout the world over recent years, is not directed at us because we practice a different calendar (Kiddush HaChodesh) or circumcision or don't eat pig (for so do the Moslems!). Today there is freedom of religion even in the former Soviet Union, and even Iran doesn't care whether we lay tefillin or not. What bothers them and much of the UN is clearly the Jewish State in the Land of Israel, proving that this mitzva is THE mitzva of our generation.
The famed rabbi of Jerusalem’s Sha’arei Chessed neighborhood, Rav Ya’akov Moshe Charlap zt’l (close student of Rav Kook), wrote (Mimaynei HaY’shua p.196) that the international efforts to prevent our return to Eretz Yisrael are precisely meant to focus world Jewry upon Israel as the top priority of our generation. "In the advent of (this, our) messianic age, the central point is Eretz Yisrael." The proof, he continues, is that it's no surprise that in today’s age of world-wide religious freedom, the ONLY mitzva which any nation wishes to deny us is the Moslem "Jihad" (Holy War") and United Nation pressures against the return of the nation of Israel to Eretz Yisrael. Explains R. Tzvi Yehuda Kook, that this obligates us, if necessary, even to give our lives for the sake of her defense.
Australia is just one more proof that moving to Florida is not the solution, for today's anti-Semitism is clearly meant to focus us on the real eternal solution and mitzvah: It's time to come HOME to ISRAEL for the final and eternal time. Chanuka Same'ach, wishing a Refuah Shleima to all of the wounded in Sydney, and comfort to all the bereaved. Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)

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