Bayamim Hahem Bazman Hazeh: Chanukah 5785
It's incredible to me that we're now entering the second Chanukah still at war after October 7th, and that there are still hostages, including the Bibas boys -- Ariel and Kfir-- in captivity for 445 days now.It truly boggles the mind that the world has no problem with innocent babies, children, mothers, fathers, elderly people, and even those who are young but guilty of no crime would be kidnapped and held for this long. Instead, they reserve their outrage for those who fight to free them. And there are even those modern day Misyavinm -- the "As a Jew" people who sell out their heritage and family either because they are actually swayed by specious arguments or because they simply want to be in the popular group. The Maccabees had to battle these people, too. I don't just mean in terms of debate but in an actual civil war to preserve Jewish identity. After all these centuries, we're in a similar position. And so we have to keep putting the Han in Hanukkah,...
