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Save "Chanukah and Purim: her ways are peace
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Chanukah and Purim: her ways are peace
מַאי חֲנוּכָּה? דְּתָנוּ רַבָּנַן: בְּכ״ה בְּכִסְלֵיו יוֹמֵי דַחֲנוּכָּה תְּמָנְיָא אִינּוּן דְּלָא לְמִסְפַּד בְּהוֹן וּדְלָא לְהִתְעַנּוֹת בְּהוֹן. שֶׁכְּשֶׁנִּכְנְסוּ יְווֹנִים לַהֵיכָל טִמְּאוּ כׇּל הַשְּׁמָנִים שֶׁבַּהֵיכָל. וּכְשֶׁגָּבְרָה מַלְכוּת בֵּית חַשְׁמוֹנַאי וְנִצְּחוּם, בָּדְקוּ וְלֹא מָצְאוּ אֶלָּא פַּךְ אֶחָד שֶׁל שֶׁמֶן שֶׁהָיָה מוּנָּח בְּחוֹתָמוֹ שֶׁל כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל, וְלֹא הָיָה בּוֹ אֶלָּא לְהַדְלִיק יוֹם אֶחָד. נַעֲשָׂה בּוֹ נֵס וְהִדְלִיקוּ מִמֶּנּוּ שְׁמוֹנָה יָמִים. לְשָׁנָה אַחֶרֶת קְבָעוּם וַעֲשָׂאוּם יָמִים טוֹבִים בְּהַלֵּל וְהוֹדָאָה.
The Gemara asks: What is Hanukkah, and why are lights kindled on Hanukkah? The Gemara answers: The Sages taught in Megillat Taanit: On the twenty-fifth of Kislev, the days of Hanukkah are eight. One may not eulogize on them and one may not fast on them. What is the reason? When the Greeks entered the Sanctuary they defiled all the oils that were in the Sanctuary by touching them. And when the Hasmonean monarchy overcame them and emerged victorious over them, they searched and found only one cruse of oil that was placed with the seal of the High Priest, undisturbed by the Greeks. And there was sufficient oil there to light the candelabrum for only one day. A miracle occurred and they lit the candelabrum from it eight days. The next year the Sages instituted those days and made them holidays with recitation of hallel and special thanksgiving in prayer and blessings.

~ What is the most important aspect of Chanukah, according to the Talmud? What happened?

(ב) וּכְשֶׁגָּבְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל עַל אוֹיְבֵיהֶם וְאִבְּדוּם בְּכ''ה בְּחֹדֶשׁ כִּסְלֵו הָיָה וְנִכְנְסוּ לַהֵיכָל וְלֹא מָצְאוּ שֶׁמֶן טָהוֹר בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ אֶלָּא פַּךְ אֶחָד וְלֹא הָיָה בּוֹ לְהַדְלִיק אֶלָּא יוֹם אֶחָד בִּלְבַד וְהִדְלִיקוּ מִמֶּנּוּ נֵרוֹת הַמַּעֲרָכָה שְׁמוֹנָה יָמִים עַד שֶׁכָּתְשׁוּ זֵיתִים וְהוֹצִיאוּ שֶׁמֶן טָהוֹר:

(2) When, on the twenty-fifth of Kislev, the Jews had emerged victorious over their foes and destroyed them, they re-entered the Temple where they found only one jar of pure oil, enough to be lit for only a single day; yet they used it for lighting the required set of lamps for eight days, until they managed to press olives and produce pure oil.

~ What is missing in Maimonides explanation of Chanukah, when you compare with the Talmud?

(ג) וּמִפְּנֵי זֶה הִתְקִינוּ חֲכָמִים שֶׁבְּאוֹתוֹ הַדּוֹר שֶׁיִּהְיוּ שְׁמוֹנַת הַיָּמִים הָאֵלּוּ שֶׁתְּחִלָּתָן כ''ה בְּכִסְלֵו יְמֵי שִׂמְחָה וְהַלֵּל וּמַדְלִיקִין בָּהֶן הַנֵּרוֹת בָּעֶרֶב עַל פִּתְחֵי הַבָּתִּים בְּכָל לַיְלָה וְלַיְלָה מִשְּׁמוֹנַת הַלֵּילוֹת לְהַרְאוֹת וּלְגַלּוֹת הַנֵּס. וְיָמִים אֵלּוּ הֵן הַנִּקְרָאִין חֲנֻכָּה וְהֵן אֲסוּרִין בְּהֶסְפֵּד וְתַעֲנִית כִּימֵי הַפּוּרִים. וְהַדְלָקַת הַנֵּרוֹת בָּהֶן מִצְוָה מִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים כִּקְרִיאַת הַמְּגִלָּה:

(3) Because of this, the sages of that generation ruled that the eight days beginning with the twenty-fifth of Kislev should be observed as days of rejoicing and hallel. Lamps are lit in the evening over the doors of the homes, on each and every one of the eight nights, so as to display the miracle. These days are called Hanukkah, when it is forbidden to lament or to fast, just as it is on the days of Purim. Lighting the lamps during the eight days of Hanukkah is a mitzvah imposed by the sages, like the reading of the Megillah on Purim.

~ The title of this section itself connects the two holidays.

~ How are Chanukah and Purim similar, according to this paragraph of Maimonides?

~ What other similarities can you come up with?

(ד) כָּל שֶׁחַיָּב בִּקְרִיאַת הַמְּגִלָּה חַיָּב בְּהַדְלָקַת נֵר חֲנֻכָּה וְהַמַּדְלִיק אוֹתָהּ בַּלַּיְלָה הָרִאשׁוֹן מְבָרֵךְ שָׁלֹשׁ בְּרָכוֹת וְאֵלּוּ הֵן. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלֹקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל חֲנֻכָּה וְשֶׁעָשָׂה נִסִּים לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְכוּ'. וְשֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְכוּ'. וְכָל הָרוֹאֶה אוֹתָהּ וְלֹא בֵּרֵךְ מְבָרֵךְ שְׁתַּיִם. שֶׁעָשָׂה נִסִּים לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְשֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ. וּבִשְׁאָר הַלֵּילוֹת הַמַּדְלִיק מְבָרֵךְ שְׁתַּיִם וְהָרוֹאֶה מְבָרֵךְ אַחַת שֶׁאֵין מְבָרְכִין שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ אֶלָּא בַּלַּיְלָה הָרִאשׁוֹן:

(4) Anyone obligated to read the Scroll is obligated to light the Chanukah lamp. And the one who lights on the first night recites three blessings — and these are them: Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to light the Chanukah lamp; who made miracles for our ancestors, etc.; and who has kept us alive, and preserved us, etc. And anyone who sees it and did not [yet] recite the blessing, recites two blessings: Who made miracles for our ancestors; and who has kept us alive. And on the other nights: The one who lights recites two blessings and the one who sees recites one blessing. For we only recite the blessing, "who has kept us alive," on the first night.

~ Note yet another similarity between the two holidays: the level of obligation.

אָמַר רָבָא: פְּשִׁיטָא לִי, נֵר בֵּיתוֹ וְנֵר חֲנוּכָּה — נֵר בֵּיתוֹ עָדִיף, מִשּׁוּם שְׁלוֹם בֵּיתוֹ. נֵר בֵּיתוֹ וְקִידּוּשׁ הַיּוֹם — נֵר בֵּיתוֹ עָדִיף, מִשּׁוּם שְׁלוֹם בֵּיתוֹ.

Rava said: It is obvious to me that there is a fixed list of priorities. When a person is poor and must choose between purchasing oil to light a Shabbat lamp for his home or purchasing oil to light a Hanukkah lamp, the Shabbat lamp for his home takes precedence. That is due to peace in his home; without the light of that lamp, his family would be sitting and eating their meal in the dark. Similarly, if there is a conflict between acquiring oil to light a lamp for his home and wine for the sanctification [kiddush] of Shabbat day, the lamp for his home takes precedence due to peace in his home.

~ What is the choice that the rabbis in the Talmud imagine a very poor person could have to make? How do they solve that? Most importantly, how do they explain the choice?

~ What is fundamentally different about the lights of Shabbat and the lights of Hanukkah?

הָיָה לְפָנָיו נֵר בֵּיתוֹ וְנֵר חֲנֻכָּה אוֹ נֵר בֵּיתוֹ וְקִדּוּשׁ הַיּוֹם נֵר בֵּיתוֹ קוֹדֵם מִשּׁוּם שְׁלוֹם בֵּיתוֹ שֶׁהֲרֵי הַשֵּׁם נִמְחָק לַעֲשׂוֹת שָׁלוֹם בֵּין אִישׁ לְאִשְׁתּוֹ. גָּדוֹל הַשָּׁלוֹם שֶׁכָּל הַתּוֹרָה נִתְּנָה לַעֲשׂוֹת שָׁלוֹם בָּעוֹלָם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי ג יז) "דְּרָכֶיהָ דַרְכֵי נֹעַם וְכָל נְתִיבֹתֶיהָ שָׁלוֹם":

If a [poor] person must choose between Sabbath lights and Hanukkah lights, or between Sabbath lights and wine for Kiddush, the lighting of his home takes priority, so as to sustain peace in the house, since even the divine name was erased [in the oath of sotah — Numbers 5:12-31] to make peace between [a jealous] husband and his wife. Great is peace, since the entire Torah has been given to create peace in the world, as it is written: "Its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its paths are peace" (Proverbs 3:17).

~ How does Maimonides express the choice? How does he explain the choice? How is his support for the position different from the Talmud's?

How great is peace? Let me tell you
אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי, עָתִיד הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְהַנְחִיל לְכָל צַדִּיק וְצַדִּיק שְׁלשׁ מֵאוֹת וַעֲשָׂרָה עוֹלָמוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי ח), לְהַנְחִיל אֹהֲבַי יֵשׁ וְאֹצְרֹתֵיהֶם אֲמַלֵּא. אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן חֲלַפְתָּא, לֹא מָצָא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כְּלִי מַחֲזִיק בְּרָכָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל אֶלָּא הַשָּׁלוֹם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים כט), ה' עֹז לְעַמּוֹ יִתֵּן ה' יְבָרֵךְ אֶת עַמּוֹ בַשָּׁלוֹם:

Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: In the world to come the Holy One of Blessing will make each righteous person inherit three hundred and ten worlds, for it is written: "That I may cause those that love me to inherit yesh [numerical value of 310] and that I may fill their treasuries" (Proverbs 8:21). Rabbi Shimon ben Halafta said: the Holy One of Blessing found no vessel that could contain blessing for Israel save that of peace, as it is written: "The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace" (Psalms 29:11).

~ What is peace, according to this mishnah?

~ What part of the service do you recognize?

דָּבָר אַחֵר (דברים כ, י): וְקָרָאתָ אֵלֶיהָ לְשָׁלוֹם, רְאֵה כַּמָּה הוּא כֹּחוֹ שֶׁל שָׁלוֹם, בּוֹא וּרְאֵה בָּשָׂר וָדָם אִם יֵשׁ לוֹ שׂוֹנֵא הוּא מְבַקֵּשׁ וּמְחַזֵּר מַה לַּעֲשׂוֹת לוֹ, מַהוּ עוֹשֶׂה לוֹ, הוֹלֵךְ וּמְכַבֵּד לְאָדָם גָּדוֹל מִמֶּנּוּ שֶׁיַּעֲשֶׂה לְאוֹתוֹ שׂוֹנֵא רָעָה, אֲבָל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֵינוֹ כֵן אֶלָּא כָּל עוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים מַכְעִיסִין אוֹתוֹ וְהֵן יְשֵׁנִים וְכָל הַנְּפָשׁוֹת עוֹלוֹת אֶצְלוֹ, מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (איוב יב, י): אֲשֶׁר בְּיָדוֹ נֶפֶשׁ כָּל חָי, וּבַבֹּקֶר הוּא מַחֲזִיר לְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד נִשְׁמָתוֹ, מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה מב, ה): נֹתֵן נְשָׁמָה לָעָם עָלֶיהָ. דָּבָר אַחֵר, בָּשָׂר וָדָם אִם יַעֲשֶׂה לַחֲבֵרוֹ רָעָה, אֵינָהּ זָזָה מִלִּבּוֹ לְעוֹלָם, אֲבָל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֵינוֹ כֵן, אֶלָּא הָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּמִצְרַיִם וְהָיוּ הַמִּצְרִים מְשַׁעְבְּדִין אוֹתָם בְּטִיט וּבִלְבֵנִים, לְאַחַר כָּל הָרָעוֹת שֶׁעָשׂוּ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל חָס הַכָּתוּב עֲלֵיהֶן, וְאָמַר (דברים כג, ח): לֹא תְתַעֵב מִצְרִי כִּי גֵר הָיִיתָ בְּאַרְצוֹ, אֶלָּא רִדְּפוּ אַחַר הַשָּׁלוֹם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים לד, טו): בַּקֵּשׁ שָׁלוֹם וְרָדְפֵהוּ. דָּבָר אַחֵר, מַהוּ בַּקֵּשׁ שָׁלוֹם וְרָדְפֵהוּ, מַעֲשֶׂה בְּרַבִּי מֵאִיר שֶׁהָיָה יוֹשֵׁב וְדוֹרֵשׁ וכו' הָלְכָה אוֹתָהּ אִשָּׁה לְבֵיתָהּ, שֶׁהָיָה לֵיל שַׁבָּת וּמָצְאָה הַנֵּר שֶׁלָּה שֶׁכָּבָה, אָמַר לָהּ בַּעֲלָהּ הֵיכָן הָיִית עַד עַכְשָׁו, אָמְרָה לוֹ שׁוֹמַעַת הָיִיתִי לְרַבִּי מֵאִיר דּוֹרֵשׁ, וְהָיָה אוֹתוֹ הָאִישׁ לֵיצָן, אָמַר לָהּ בְּכָךְ וְכָךְ אֵין אַתְּ נִכְנֶסֶת לְבֵיתִי עַד שֶׁתֵּלְכִי וְתָרֹקִּי בְּפָנָיו שֶׁל רַבִּי מֵאִיר, יָצְאָה לָהּ מִבֵּיתוֹ. נִגְלָה אֵלִיָּהוּ זָכוּר לַטּוֹב עַל רַבִּי מֵאִיר, אָמַר לוֹ הֲרֵי בִּשְׁבִילְךָ יָצְאָה הָאִשָּׁה מִבֵּיתָהּ, הוֹדִיעוֹ אֵלִיָּהוּ זָכוּר לַטּוֹב הֵיאַךְ הָיָה הַמַּעֲשֶׂה, מֶה עָשָׂה רַבִּי מֵאִיר, הָלַךְ וְיָשַׁב לוֹ בְּבֵית הַמִּדְרָשׁ הַגָּדוֹל, בָּאֲתָה אוֹתָהּ אִשָּׁה לְהִתְפַּלֵּל וְרָאָה אוֹתָהּ, וְעָשָׂה עַצְמוֹ מִתְפַּסֵּק, אָמַר מִי יוֹדֵעַ לִלְחשׁ לָעַיִן, אָמְרָה לוֹ אוֹתָהּ אִשָּׁה אֲנִי בָּאתִי לִלְחשׁ, רָקְקָה בְּפָנָיו. אָמַר לָהּ, אִמְרִי לְבַעֲלֵךְ הֲרֵי רָקַקְתִּי בְּפָנָיו שֶׁל רַבִּי מֵאִיר, אָמַר לָהּ לְכִי הִתְרַצִּי לְבַעֲלֵךְ. רְאֵה כַּמָּה גָדוֹל הוּא כֹּחוֹ שֶׁל שָׁלוֹם. דָּבָר אַחֵר, אָמַר רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא תֵּדַע לָךְ כַּמָּה גָּדוֹל הוּא כֹּחוֹ שֶׁל שָׁלוֹם, שֶׁאָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁאָדָם מְקַנֵּא לְאִשְׁתּוֹ הַשֵּׁם הַקָּדוֹשׁ הַנִּכְתָּב בִּקְדֻשָּׁה יִמָּחֶה עַל הַמַּיִם, כְּדֵי לְהַטִּיל שָׁלוֹם בֵּין סוֹטָה לְבַעֲלָהּ. אָמַר רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ, גָּדוֹל הוּא הַשָּׁלוֹם, שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב דְּבָרִים שֶׁל בְּדַאי לִתֵּן שָׁלוֹם בֵּין יוֹסֵף לְאֶחָיו, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁמֵּת אֲבִיהֶן הָיוּ מִתְיָרְאִין שֶׁלֹא יִנְקֹם לָהֶן, וּמָה אָמְרוּ לוֹ (בראשית נ, טז יז): אָבִיךָ צִוָּה לִפְנֵי מוֹתוֹ לֵאמֹר כֹּה תֹאמְרוּ לְיוֹסֵף, וְאֵין אָנוּ מוֹצְאִים שֶׁצִּוָּה יַעֲקֹב אָבִינוּ, אֶלָּא אָמְרוּ הַכְּתוּבִים דִּבְרֵי בְּדַאי מִפְּנֵי דַרְכֵי שָׁלוֹם. דָּבָר אַחֵר, חָבִיב הוּא הַשָּׁלוֹם שֶׁנְּתָנוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְצִיּוֹן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים קכב, ו): שַׁאֲלוּ שְׁלוֹם יְרוּשָׁלָיִם. דָּבָר אַחֵר, חָבִיב הוּא הַשָּׁלוֹם שֶׁנְּתָנוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בַּשָּׁמַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (איוב כה, ב): עֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו. דָּבָר אַחֵר, חָבִיב הוּא הַשָּׁלוֹם שֶׁנְּתָנוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לַקְּרוֹבִים וְלָרְחוֹקִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה נז, יט): שָׁלוֹם שָׁלוֹם לָרָחוֹק וְלַקָּרוֹב. דָּבָר אַחֵר, חָבִיב הוּא הַשָּׁלוֹם שֶׁלֹא נְתָנוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לָרְשָׁעִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה מח, כב): אֵין שָׁלוֹם אָמַר ה' לָרְשָׁעִים. דָּבָר אַחֵר, חָבִיב הוּא הַשָּׁלוֹם שֶׁנְּתָנוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְפִינְחָס בִּשְׂכָרוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר כה, יב): הִנְנִי נֹתֵן לוֹ אֶת בְּרִיתִי שָׁלוֹם. דָּבָר אַחֵר, גָּדוֹל הַשָּׁלוֹם שֶׁאֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְבַשֵֹּׂר אֶת יְרוּשָׁלַיִם שֶׁיִּהְיוּ נִגְאָלִים אֶלָּא בַּשָּׁלוֹם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה נב, ז): מַשְׁמִיעַ שָׁלוֹם וגו'. דָּבָר אַחֵר, אָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי חָבִיב הוּא הַשָּׁלוֹם שֶׁכָּל חוֹתְמֵיהֶם שֶׁל בְּרָכוֹת אֵינָן אֶלָּא בְּשָׁלוֹם, קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע חוֹתֶמֶת בְּשָׁלוֹם, פּוֹרֵס סֻכַּת שָׁלוֹם. הַתְּפִלָּה חוֹתֶמֶת בְּשָׁלוֹם. בִּרְכַּת כֹּהֲנִים חוֹתֶמֶת (במדבר ו, כו): וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם. דָּבָר אַחֵר, חָבִיב הוּא הַשָּׁלוֹם שֶׁאֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְנַחֵם אֶת יְרוּשָׁלַיִם אֶלָּא בְּשָׁלוֹם, מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה סו, יב): הִנְנִי נוֹטֶה אֵלֶיהָ כְּנָהָר שָׁלוֹם. אָמַר דָּוִד מְבַקֵּשׁ הָיִיתִי לִשְׁמֹעַ מַהוּ שִׂיחָתוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְשָׁמַעְתִּי שֶׁהָיָה עָסוּק בִּשְׁלוֹמָן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים פה, ט): אֶשְׁמְעָה מַה יְּדַבֵּר הָאֵל ה' כִּי יְדַבֵּר שָׁלוֹם אֶל עַמּוֹ וְאֶל חֲסִידָיו וגו'. אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן חֲלַפְתָּא, רְאֵה מָה חָבִיב הַשָׁלוֹם, כְּשֶׁבִּקֵּשׁ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְבָרֵךְ אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל לֹא מָצָא כְּלִי שֶׁהוּא מַחֲזִיק כָּל הַבְּרָכוֹת לְבָרְכָן בּוֹ אֶלָּא הַשָּׁלוֹם, מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים כט, יא): ה' עֹז לְעַמּוֹ יִתֵּן ה' יְבָרֵךְ אֶת עַמּוֹ בַשָּׁלוֹם.

Alternatively, "proclaim peace unto it" (Deuteronomy 20), See how great is the power of peace. Come see, a human of flesh and blood, if one has an enemy and wonders what to do to the enemy. What does one do? One goes and honors another greater than the enemy so that as to do evil to the enemy. But the Holy One of Blessing is not like that, rather all the idol worshipers anger God, and they sleep and all the souls rise up to him. From where do we know this? As it says, "He in Whose hand is the spirit of all life" (Job 12:10). And in the morning God returns to each and every one their soul. From where do we know this? As it says "He gives breath to the people upon it" (Isaiah 42:5).

Alternatively: A human of flesh and blood, if one's friend does evil to them, it does not leave their heart for ever. But the Holy One of Blessing is not so, rather Israel was in Egypt and the Egyptians enslaved them with mortar and brick, and after all the evil they did to Israel, the Torah has mercy on them and it says "You shall not abhor an Egyptian for you were a stranger in his land", but rather pursue peace as it is written "seek peace and pursue it" (Psalms 34:15).

Another interpretation: what is "seek peace and pursue it"? A story about Rabbi Meir: he was sitting and teaching, etc, that woman went home and it was Friday evening, and she discovered that her [Shabbat] light had gone out and her husband asked her: 'where were you, out this late?' and she answered: 'I was listening to Rabbi Meir expound on Torah.' And that man was a nincompoop, and told her: 'the only way you are getting into my house is if you spit on the face of Rabbi Meir'. And he expelled her from the house. Eliahu Hanavi, may he be mentioned for good, revealed all this to Rabbi Meir, and said to him: 'it was because of you that this woman was expelled from her house.' And Eliahu Hanavi, may he be mentioned for good, informed him of all the drama. What did Rabbi Meir do?He went and sat in the big Beit Midrash, and that woman came to pray and he saw her, and pretended to be blinking [with discomfort], and said in a loud voice: 'who here knows an incantation over the eye? And she said: I know. And she spit on his face. He said to her: now go and tell your husband: I did spit on Rabbi Meir's face, he said: go back to your husband. See! How great is the power of peace.

Another word: Rabbi Akiva said: know how great is the power of peace! The Holy One of Blessing said that when a man feels jealous towards his wife the very Holy Name of God which is written in sanctity is to be erased in water, in order to send [a bomb of] peace between a sotah and her husband.

Resh Lakish said: so great is peace that Scripture said lying words in order to set peace between Yosef and his brothers. At the time of their father's death they were afraid that he would take revenge upon them, and what did they say "your father commanded before his death to say: such you will say to Yosef [please forgive your brothers' offense and guilt] (Gen. 50:16-17) and we do not find such a command from Yaakov our father, rather, scripture said lying words because of the ways of peace.

Another interpretation: Beloved is peace, that the Holy One of Blessing gave it to Tzion, as it says: "Ask for the peace of Jerusalem" (Ps. 122:6).

Another interpretation: So beloved is peace, that the Holy One of Blessing gave it to the heaven, as it says: "The Maker of Peace on His heights / oseh shalom bimromav" (Job 25:2).

Alternatively: So beloved is peace, that the Holy One of Blessing gave it to near ones and far ones, as it says "Peace peace, to the far and to the near" (Isaiah 57:19).

Alternatively: so beloved is peace, that the Holy One of Blessing did not give it to the wicked, as it says "There is no peace, said Ad-nai, for the wicked" (Isaiah 48:22).

Alternatively: so beloved is peace, that the Holy One of Blessing gave it to Pinchas as his reward, as it says "Behold I give him my covenant of peace". (Numbers 25:12).

Alternatively: So great is peace, that the Holy One of Blessing doesn't announce to Jerusalem that they will be redeemed except in peace, as it says "Announce peace..." (Isaiah 52:7).

Alternatively: R. Levi said: so beloved is peace, that all the closings of blessings are in peace. The reading of the Shema closes in peace: "Spread a sukah of peace", prayer closes in peace, the priestly blessing closes in peace "And He shall give to you peace".

Alternatively: so beloved is peace, that the Holy One of Blessing only comforts Jerusalem with peace. From where do we know this? As it is written "Behold I will extend peace to her like a river" (Isaiah 66:12).

David said, 'I asked to hear what the Holy One of Blessing says about Israel, and I heard that God busies Godself with their peace', as it says "I will hear what God Ad-nai will speak, God will speak peace to His people, and unto his followers" (Psalms 85:9).

R. Shimon Ben Chalafta said: See how beloved peace is, when the Holy One of Blessing wanted to bless Israel he found no vessel that could hold all the blessings to bless them with except for peace. From where do we know this? As it says "Ad-nai will give strength to his people, Ad-nai will bless his people with peace" / Ad-nai oz l'amo yiten. (Psalms 29:11)

~ This is a long midrash, and a famous one. Some pieces are more famous than others - have you heard any of them?

~ There are 14 different takes on how important peace is. Can you find a connection between the story of Rabbi Meir and the exposition of Rabbi Akiva? What do you think the connection is between Rabbi Akiva's exposition and Resh Lakish's?

~ How many of those expositions make their way into our services?

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אֲפִלּוּ הָעַכּוּ''ם צִוּוּ חֲכָמִים לְבַקֵּר חוֹלֵיהֶם וְלִקְבֹּר מֵתֵיהֶם עִם מֵתֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וּלְפַרְנֵס עֲנִיֵּיהֶם בִּכְלַל עֲנִיֵּי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִפְּנֵי דַּרְכֵי שָׁלוֹם. הֲרֵי נֶאֱמַר (תהילים קמה, ט) "טוֹב ה' לַכּל וְרַחֲמָיו עַל כָּל מַעֲשָׂיו". וְנֶאֱמַר (משלי ג, יז) "דְּרָכֶיהָ דַרְכֵי נֹעַם וְכָל נְתִיבוֹתֶיהָ שָׁלוֹם":

And that that our Sages have commanded us to visit their sick and bury their dead along with Jewish dead, and sustain their poor along with the poor of Israel is for the “sake of peace”, since it says, “G-d is good to all, and His mercies extend upon all his works” (Psalms 145:9) and it says, “her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace" (Proverbs 3:17).

~ How does Maimonides close this chapter in "Laws of Kings and Wars"?

~ How does this make its way into our services?

~ Back to Hannukah: how does this stand in tension with the Hasmonean dynasty?

לֹא נִתְאַוּוּ הַחֲכָמִים וְהַנְּבִיאִים יְמוֹת הַמָּשִׁיחַ. לֹא כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּשְׁלְטוּ עַל כָּל הָעוֹלָם. וְלֹא כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּרְדּוּ בָּעַכּוּ''ם. וְלֹא כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּנַשְּׂאוּ אוֹתָם הָעַמִּים. וְלֹא כְּדֵי לֶאֱכל וְלִשְׁתּוֹת וְלִשְׂמֹחַ. אֶלָּא כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיוּ פְּנוּיִין בַּתּוֹרָה וְחָכְמָתָהּ. וְלֹא יִהְיֶה לָהֶם נוֹגֵשׂ וּמְבַטֵּל. כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּזְכּוּ לְחַיֵּי הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ בְּהִלְכוֹת תְּשׁוּבָה:
The Sages and the Prophets did not long for the days of the Messiah because they wanted to rule the world or because they wanted to have dominion over the non-Jews or because they wanted the nations to exalt them or because they wanted to eat, drink and be merry. Rather, they desired this so that they would have time for Torah and its Wisdom. And there would be no one who would oppress them or force them to be idle (from Torah). This, in order that they may merit the World to Come, as we have explained regarding the Laws of Repentance.
וּבְאוֹתוֹ הַזְּמַן לֹא יִהְיֶה שָׁם לֹא רָעָב וְלֹא מִלְחָמָה. וְלֹא קִנְאָה וְתַחֲרוּת. שֶׁהַטּוֹבָה תִּהְיֶה מֻשְׁפַּעַת הַרְבֵּה. וְכָל הַמַּעֲדַנִּים מְצוּיִין כֶּעָפָר. וְלֹא יִהְיֶה עֵסֶק כָּל הָעוֹלָם אֶלָּא לָדַעַת אֶת ה' בִּלְבַד. וּלְפִיכָךְ יִהְיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל חֲכָמִים גְּדוֹלִים וְיוֹדְעִים דְּבָרִים הַסְּתוּמִים וְיַשִּׂיגוּ דַּעַת בּוֹרְאָם כְּפִי כֹּחַ הָאָדָם. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה יא, ט) "כִּי מָלְאָה הָאָרֶץ דֵּעָה אֶת ה' כַּמַּיִם לַיָּם מְכַסִּים":
At that time there will be no famines and no wars, no envy and no competition. For the Good will be very pervasive. All the delicacies will be as readily available as is dust. The world will only be engaged in knowing G-d. Then, there will be very wise people who will understand the deep, sealed matters. They will then achieve knowledge of the Creator to as high a degree as humanly possible, as it says, “For the Earth shall be filled of knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:9).
Blessed be Hashem who helped me.

~ This is the very end of "Laws of Kings and Wars". Chapters 11 and 12 deal with the messianic age and with the figure of the Messiah. How does Maimonides understand the desire for an ultimate redemption? Is it about lording over other people?

~ Back to Hannukah: how does this stand in tension with the Hasmonean dynasty?

יְיָ עֹז לְעַמּוֹ יִתֵּן, יְיָ יְבָרֵךְ אֶת עַמּוֹ בַשָּׁלוֹם (תהילים כ״ט:י׳-י״א): הִנֵּה יָדוּעַ שֶׁגָּדוֹל הַשָּׁלוֹם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁדָּרְשׁוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (עוקצין פ"ג), שֶׁלֹּא מָצָא הַקָּדוֹשׁ־בָּרוּךְ־הוּא כְּלִי מַחֲזִיק בְּרָכָה אֶלָּא הַשָּׁלוֹם. וּמַה הוּא הַשָּׁלוֹם, שֶׁמְּחַבֵּר תְּרֵי הֲפָכִים, כְּמוֹ שֶׁדָּרְשׁוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (זוהר ויקרא דף יב:) בַּפָּסוּק: עוֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו, כִּי זֶה הַמַּלְאָךְ – מֵאֵשׁ וְזֶה – מִמַּיִם, שֶׁהֵם תְּרֵי הֲפָכִים, כִּי מַיִם מְכַבֶּה אֵשׁ, וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ־בָּרוּךְ־הוּא עוֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בֵּינֵיהֶם וּמְחַבְּרָם יַחַד. וְהוּא בְּחִינַת יוֹסֵף, כִּי יוֹסֵף מְחַבֵּר תְּרֵי הֲפָכִים – חֲסָדִים וּגְבוּרוֹת. לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר בְּיוֹסֵף (בראשית ל״ז:ב׳): וַיָּבֵא יוֹסֵף אֶת דִּבָּתָם רָעָה – הוּא בְּחִינַת גְּבוּרוֹת, כִּי שְׂמֹאל דּוֹחָה (סוטה מז), אֶת אַחַי אָנֹכִי מְבַקֵּשׁ (בראשית שם) – הוּא בְּחִינַת חֲסָדִים, כִּי יָמִין מְקָרֶבֶת (סוטה שם). וּכְתִיב (בראשית מ״ב:ו׳): וְיוֹסֵף הוּא הַשַּׁלִּיט – הוּא בְּחִינַת גְּבוּרוֹת, הוּא הַמַּשְׁבִּיר לְכָל עַם הָאָרֶץ – זֶה בְּחִינַת חֲסָדִים. וְנֶאֱמַר אֶצְלוֹ (שם מא): וַיִקְרְאוּ לְפָנָיו אַבְרֵךְ, וּפֵרֵשׁ רַשִׁ"י: אָב בְּחָכְמָה וְרַךְ בְּשָׁנִים; שֶׁהוּא מֹחִין דְּגַדְלוּת וְקַטְנוּת [שֶׁהֵם בְּחִינַת חֲסָדִים וּגְבוּרוֹת, כַּיָּדוּעַ]:
HaShem Oz L’Aamo Yetein (God Gives His People Strength); God blesses His people with peace.” (Psalms 29:11) Behold, the great value of peace is known. As our Sages, of blessed memory, taught: The Holy One, blessed be He, found no suitable vessel to contain [Israel’s] blessing other than peace (Uktzin 3:12) . What is peace? It is the uniting of opposites. As our Sages, of blessed memory, expounded the verse (Job 25:2), “He makes peace in His heights”—this angel is made of fire and this one is from water (Zohar III, 12b). These are opposites, since water extinguishes fire. Yet God makes peace between them and unites them. This is the aspect of Yosef. Yosef joins opposites—benevolences and severities. Therefore, of Yosef it is said: “Yosef brought bad reports of them [to their father]” (Genesis 37:2). This is the element of severities, since the left hand pushes away (Sotah 47a). <Yet it is also written concerning [Yosef]>, “I am seeking my brothers” (Genesis 37:16). This is the element of benevolences, since the right hand brings close (Sotah, ibid .) . <In addition,> it is written (Genesis 42:6), “Yosef was the ruler,” which is the aspect of severities; “he was the provider of food for all the people,” which is the aspect of benevolences. Thus it is said of him (ibid. 41:43): “[those going] before him proclaimed, ‘ AVReiKh (the viceroy)’,” which Rashi explains as: AV (an elder) in wisdom, and RaKh (young) in years. This alludes to expanded and contracted consciousness, {which correspond to benevolences and severities, as is known}.

~ What is the character of Yosef, according to Rabbi Nachman of Bretzlav?

~ How is Hannukah connected to Yosef?

~ How do we balance Purim and Hannukah with the importance of peace in the Jewish tradition?

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