In Those Days, At This Time: Understanding the Power of Courage

In those days, at this time: They knew well the secrets of propaganda, how to dictate social atmosphere, engineer consciousness, and create public pressure. To 'bring the light' to the 'dark Jews,' the Greeks used every tool available: circuses, theaters, grand productions of sporting competitions featuring Jews who 'discovered the light' (the *Mityavnim*, who, by the way, enjoyed the false treatment), while at the same time, laws were enacted prohibiting any Jewish symbols: bans on the wearing of *tefillin*, placing *mezuzot*, reforms in the education of the younger generation ('write on the horn of a bull: we have no part in the God of Israel'), and much more.

This had a severe impact on many Jews from the masses ('the floating voices'), and there was a tangible danger of a public drift. Among many Jews, there still existed a deep internal loyalty to the Jewish tradition, but they did not find the courage or strength in their souls to swim against the tide.

The beginning of the change came with the fearless courage of *Matityahu* the *Maccabee* in his famous call, 'Who is for Hashem, follow me,' as he was unafraid to consider 'what others would say' or 'what they would think.' This is what we want to focus on in this section—the ability to muster the courage to say what you have to say, even at the cost of being the lone voice against all.

The first section in the *Shulchan Aruch* states: 'I have set Hashem before me always is a great principle in the Torah and in the virtues of the righteous who go before God... and one should not be ashamed before people who mock him in his service to Hashem.'

Rabbi Nachman of Breslov wrote about this: ``'Abraham was one.' Abraham served Hashem only by thinking in his mind that he was alone in the world, and he did not look at the people of the world who strayed from Hashem and prevented him, nor at his father and other prohibitors, but as if he were the only one in the world. This is: 'Abraham was one.' Likewise, anyone who wishes to enter the service of Hashem cannot enter except by this examination: that he thinks there is no one in the world but himself alone, and he should not look at anyone who hinders him, such as his father, mother, father-in-law, wife, children, or the hindrances from other people who mock, incite, and prevent him from serving Hashem. He must not feel or look at them at all, but should be in the state of: 'Abraham was one,' as if he is the only one in the world as mentioned above.'

Thus began the great change that we celebrate to this day every year during *Chanukah*. Thanks to one brave Jew who was not afraid to speak his truth. So it was in those days, and so it is now.

Does this feel somewhat familiar in today's reality?

(May these words be for the memory of my beloved father, Yehuda ben Meir Chaim, *z"l*, who served as an example and model of tireless courage and was unafraid to express his opinion on every sacred matter.)