Reclaiming Our Portion in Hashem

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December 01 2019
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The Midrash, Bereishis Rabbah 2:4, describes galus Yavan — the period of persecution that the Jews experienced in the time leading up to the Chanukah story — as choshech, darkness, because the Greeks darkened the eyes of the Jews by telling them to write on the horn of an ox, “you have no portion in the G-d of Israel.” Much has been written and said about this midrash. I would like to focus on what it means to have a portion in the G-d of Israel.


In Parashas Korach (18:20), Hashem states that the Kohanim and Levi’im will not receive a portion of land in Israel. Rather, Ani chelkecha v’nachalasecha, I am your portion and share. The Kohanim and Levi’im have a direct portion in Hashem. What do they do to attain that portion? They had two primary roles. First, they performed avodah, service, in the Beis Hamikdash. Second, when they weren’t actively performing avodah, they were involved in learning and teaching Torah (see Rambam, Hilchos Shemitah V’Yovel 13:12). As such, having a portion in Hashem means having a portion in Torah learning and avodah.


The Greeks understood what it meant to have a portion in Hashem and their decrees reflected that. First, they wanted to ensure that we had no portion in Torah learning. In Al Hanisim the first thing we mention is l’hashkicham Torasecha, they attempted to have us forget the Torah. Second, they wanted to eliminate the avoda in the Beis Hamikdash by defiling it.


On Chanukah, we have an opportunity to reclaim our portion in Hashem. Our lighting of the Chanukah candles is an act of avoda. It mimics the lighting of the Menorah in the Beis Hamikdash and it is something even non-Kohanim can do. Chanukah is also a time when we can rededicate ourselves to Torah learning. By committing ourselves to Torah and avodah, we are stating that we have a portion in the G-d of Israel.

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    Learning on the Marcos and Adina Katz YUTorah site is sponsored today by Judy & Mark Frankel & family l'ilui nishmos מרדכי בן הרב משה יהודה ע"ה and משה יהודה ז"ל בן מאיר אליהו ויהודית and by the Polinsky Family to commemorate the 5th Yahrzeit of Gil Polinsky, Gedalyahu Gootmun Chaim ben Yaakov Dov