Would you ever have expected the news to announce "A few tzaddikim defeat Hannibals elephants"! Yet, this is exactly what happened. The mightiest army of its time fell prey to a small band of "Talmudists". How did this happen? In what zchus?

Rav Chaim Friedlander ZTL teaches that the equation was straightforward and simple--since the Maccabim were moser nefesh--they broke their own will and were ready to give up their own lives to defeat the Greek influence, Hashem responded in kind, by breaking the rules of creation and nature, i.e., bringing us the miracles of Chanukah. The Vilna Gaon in Mishle (4:13) writes that a person should especially focus his life on becoming a better person-that is, breaking his bad habits and bad character traits.

In a similar vein, Rabbeinu Yonah, in the classic Yesod HaTeshuva, states that the Raavad recommended that a person with a great desire for something should attempt to in some way break the desire, by either not fulfilling it at all or at least curtailing it or alleviating it in some way.

Dovid HaMelech in Tehillim (121:5) teaches us that in truth, Hashem "is your shadow"--meaning, that if we can improve ourselves by ridding ourselves of, or weakening, our jealously, anger, hatred or another bad midah or middos we possess, Hashem will also break the bad decree or remove or alleviate in some way the difficult situation in which a person might find himself.

Practical Suggestion: Let us take the lesson of the Maccabim. Try overcoming something that would otherwise seem impossible during the course of this week, such as a great desire or a midah which you have particular trouble with, and have almost given up on. With even one victory, you may receive a miracle of your very own!

INFLUENTIA

On Chanukah, we celebrate not only the defeat of the Greeks, but also our staunch dedication against the Greek influence.

It is interesting to note that the Chofetz Chaim, in his explanation of the siddur, writes that the brocha of "Sheloh Asani Goy" is intended to cover not only that we were not born goyim, but also that we dont have the same conduct and thoughts as the other nations.

Chanukah is an auspicious time for us to evaluate our conduct--have we allowed into our mind or home something that would taint this brocha? Some nice inner reflection may be in order.

In any event, a nice avodah over Chanukah would be to recite this brocha with a special thanks, and with a silent prayer, that we not be influenced in a negative way by the world around us, so that each and every one of us can fulfill our important special mission in life.

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