Chanukah 5770/2009 - Jewish Infertility

SHAAREI TIKVAH/ CHANUKAH 2009
27
While even our best and most sincere efforts do not necessarily
bring about miracles, the teaching is nevertheless valid.
FROM OUR PRAYERS
An excerpt from “Growing each day – Kislev” by Rabbi A.J. Twersky
They established these eight days of Chanukah to give
thanks and praise to Your great Name (Al Hanisim).
Jewish history is replete with miracles that transcend
the miracle of the Menorah. Why is the latter so prominently
celebrated while the others are relegated to relative
obscurity?
Perhaps the reason is that most other miracles were
Divinely initiated; i.e. G-d intervened to suspend the laws
of nature in order to save His people from calamity.
The miracle of the Menorah was something different.
Having defeated the Seleucid Greek invaders, the triumphant
Jews entered the Sanctuary. There they found
that they could light the Menorah for only one day, due to
lack of undefiled oil. Further, they had no chance of replenishing
the supply for eight days. They did light the Menorah
anyway, reasoning that it was the best way to do what was
within their ability to do and to postpone worrying about
the next day until such worry was appropriate. This decision
elicited a Divine response and the Menorah stayed lit
for that day and for seven more.
This miracle was thus initiated by the Jews themselves,
and the incident was set down as a teaching for all future
generations: Concentrate your efforts on what you can do
and do it! Leave the rest to G-d.
While even our best and most sincere efforts do not
necessarily bring about miracles, the teaching is nevertheless
valid. Even the likelihood of failure in the future should
not discourage us from any constructive action that we can
take now.