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Hanukkah: The Fight for Values

We are living through turbulent and confusing times. Much of what we see is filtered through politics and headlines. Hanukkah offers a completely different paradigm to make sense of everything. In this talk, Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein asks a foundational question: what is Hanukkah really about? The Gemara speaks about the miracle of the oil, but why would our Sages establish a new festival for all generations on that basis alone, especially in light of the many miracles recorded in Jewish history and even in the Beit HaMikdash itself? Tracing the story of Greek oppression and the spiritual assault on Torah, mitzvot, and Jewish identity, the shiur draws a crucial distinction between Purim and Hanukkah, as explained by the Levush and developed further by the Maharal. Purim was a battle for Jewish physical survival. Hanukkah was a battle for Judaism itself. Through Pirkei Avot 1:4 and the life of Yossi ben Yoezer, the Chief reveals why Hanukkah begins in the home, why the symbol is light, and why Torah learning is not only information but a worldview that shapes how we see reality. Hanukkah remains a paradigm for every generation facing an attack on Jewish values. Key Insights Hanukkah is a paradigm for interpreting turbulent times through a Torah lens. The miracle of the oil is not the full reason for the festival. It is the symbol of its essence. Purim was a physical threat to the Jewish people. Hanukkah was a spiritual threat to Judaism. A spiritual assault on Torah is an existential threat to Jewish existence (Maharal). The menorah represents the light of Torah values that illuminate life and history. Pirkei Avot 1:4 and Yossi ben Yoezer offer a blueprint for spiritual resistance that begins in the home.