8 Chanukah lessons -- both serious and frivolous

Do the right thing -- even if it seems hopeless.
A femme fatale is an army's best asset
Flatter a man's vanity, and he's bound to lose his head.
You snooze, you lose.
Bemakom she'eyn anashim, hishtadel lihiyos ish [in a place where there are no men, try to be a man (Avos 2:6).] applies to women, as well.
You win some, you lose some, but you still have to play -- dreidel.
You don't have to be Jewish to love latkes.
Carpe Diem -- doughnuts taste best fresh.

Comments

Orthonomics said…
It is easy to forget that Chanukah also has a feminine heroine. Bring on the wonderful dairy foods!
Chaim B. said…
I like them all, but this one:

>>>Bemakom she'eyn ish, hishtadel lihiyos ish applies to women, as well.

Is my favorite.

>>>Do the right thing -- even if it seems hopeless.

Rav Kook said that this is why the first day counts as a miracle as well. Many people would have said why light a menorah for one day if you will be out of oil for the next seven, but that's not our attitude.
miriamp said…
Two feminine heroines! Don't forget Chana, encouraging all her sons to give up their lives al kiddush Hashem while they made her watch. That's maybe not on the same level as Yehudis going out and offering herself to the general in order to kill him, but it's still heroism!
Ariella's blog said…
Of course, you are right, miriamp. I had thought of including the story of Chana and her sons as another illustration of female heroism in my more basic Chanukah psot at http://www.examiner.com/x-18522-NY-Jewish-Bridal-Examiner~y2009m12d17-Credit-to-the-women-on-the-festival-of-lights-and-the-new-moon
But I think the af hen hayu beotho hanes technically applied to Yehudith's bringing about the victory in battle.
Chaim B. said…
There are two views in Tosfos as to when the idea of "af hein" applies: one view holds "af hein" applies when women were participants in the benefits of the miracle; the the other view holds it applies only where women brought about (or helped bring about) the miracle. According to this second view of Tosfos it would be specifically Yehudit's actions (as you wrote) which would obligate women to light menorah and recite hallel, though Chana's deeds were certainly no less heroic.
Anonymous said…
cute post, but what does "Bemakom she'eyn ish, hishtadel lihiyos ish" mean?
Ariella's blog said…
It's a quote from Pirkei Avos 2:6. One of the sayings attributed to Hillel is "in a place where there are no men, try to be a man." I'll fill it in on the post in brackets. I see I switched the plural men to singular in the post.

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