Yaakov, Chanukah and the Myth of Smoothness

Each and every year, we read the story of Yosef during the time of Chanukkah.  And while lessons of Chanukkah and Yosef can complement one another, this year, I cannot stop thinking about Yaakov and Chanukkah.  

Of course, Chanukkah celebrates the rededication our permanent home the חנוכת המזבח.  But, as we know, there are other ways that over the centuries we have explained the meaning of the name of this chag.  One way is that the name is broken up into two words, חנו כה -- they rested on the 25th.  After a long struggle with the Syrian Greeks, who challenged their religious and political identity, , the Macabees rested on the 25th of Kislev.   They rested in order to take time to celebrate their victory and their momentum -- the beginnings of a new chapter of their political life, of the world order they envisioned was about to begin..

And just like the Macabees, Yaakov, also sits  וישב יעקב .  After long personal struggles,with Esav, with his wives, with his father in-law and with his children, Yaakov sits.  Following an up and down  business life, he finally achieves success and can rest.  .   Rashi famously tells us בקש     
 יעקב לשב בשלוה Yaakov just wanted to rest and take in the beginnings of a new life, one of tranquility, a life where he can watch his family grow into Am Yisrael smoothly and  successfully.

But sadly, just when the achievement of personal, national, economic and political goals seemed in the hands of Yaakov and the Macabbees, life spun toward chaos.  

Soonafter the Chanukkah story, infighting among the Jews becomes the norm and the Romans begin to gain power. Within a century of this dawn of a new era the  Jews are defeated and the Temple is destroyed.  The momentum of the Macabees is stalled.  So much for the resting.  

This happens for Yaakov as well, while he wants tranquility, there is no rest.  His sons begin their struggles and the worse times for his family are ahead.  Yosef shares his dreams and the brothers plot to kill Yosef, eventually selling him to slavery, breaking up the family. The dream of a new reality for Yaakov is halted. So much for tranquility. 

Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz points out a powerful principle.  It is one that is unfortunate, but so true.    צדיקים אין  להם  מנוחה. There is no rest for tsadikim.  The story of the Macabees and the story of Yaakov show us that just when we think that we are on a path toward our dreams coming true, something comes along that makes us realize that there will always be struggles, detractors from the dream and  barriers in our way.  

As we usher in Chanukah, in this very, very scary world, let’s keep this lesson in mind.  As we all want to be tsadikim, we realize along with the life of the righteous comes a life that complicated and never fully smooth.  Whether we like it or not, in this world, we are not created for rest and tranquility.  We are created, rather,  to keep on moving forward with the passion of love, giving and the knowledge of what is right, knowing all along that there will never be one clear road to paradise.