Sicha, Shabbos Vayeshev 5723
A. Why Defile?
About two thousand years ago, Antiochus conquered the Land of Israel and issued harsh decrees against the Torah. The Hasmoneans launched a revolt and restored Jewish rule in the land (Source 1). After the conquest of Jerusalem and the Holy Temple, a small jar of oil was miraculously found, which, by another miracle, lasted for eight days (Source 2).
The Rebbe asks: Why did the Greeks insist on defiling the oil instead of destroying it completely? After all, the Hellenized Jews probably told them that it would be possible to light the menorah even with defiled oil, if there was no other choice.
B. Academic Pursuit or Divine Wisdom?
The Greeks did not oppose the wisdom of the Torah as one of many philosophical systems. Their opposition was to studying the Torah out of faith that it is the Torah of G-d, which transcends human logic. Since the whole concept of ritual impurity and purity transcends logic and reason, as explained by Maimonides (Source 3), these laws symbolize that the Torah of G-d is beyond human reason. Therefore, the Greeks chose to defile the oil rather than pour it out, because their issue was with the spiritual dimension of the Torah, not with the lighting itself.
More than that, they actually wanted Jews to light the menorah—but with defiled oil. They wanted Jews to continue studying Torah (lighting the menorah), but according to the Greek approach: as a philosophical work written by humans , to be treated as such (defiled oil). And this is the greatest danger to Judaism.
This is similar to Pharaoh’s decree to kill the boys and “let the girls live,” raising them in the atmosphere of Egypt’s impurity.
C. Pure Oil
Seemingly, according to Jewish law they could have lit the menorah even with defiled oil—so why did the Maccabees insist on finding pure oil? And why did G-d perform a seemingly unnecessary miracle?
The explanation: The Maccabees understood the Greeks’ intent and the symbolism behind defiling the oil. Therefore, they specifically sought pure oil in order to perform the mitzvah in the optimal manner and to declare that we believe in the Torah of G-d as it transcends reason, and thus we also believe in and honor the mitzvot of impurity and purity. Therefore, G-d also demonstrated His affection for the Jewish people, enabling them to perform the mitzvah in the most beautiful way—with pure oil.
This is relevant to us as well: When “Greek” ideas and messages that run counter to Judaism penetrate our consciousness, there is always a jar of oil—a pure divine spark—by which we can illuminate our entire personality and all those around us.
