{"id":79247,"date":"2020-08-25T22:37:09","date_gmt":"2020-08-25T19:37:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=79247"},"modified":"2021-12-02T10:17:16","modified_gmt":"2021-12-02T08:17:16","slug":"the-day-of-small-things","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/the-day-of-small-things\/","title":{"rendered":"The Day Of Small Things"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Having reassured Zechariah that the high priest Joshua is worthy to serve in the Temple, despite the personal imperfections that plagued him and his family, now God describes the building of the new Temple. The vision is a lampstand that received oil for its lamps from two olive trees. Again, the angel turns to Zechariah and asks him if he understands what he sees, to which Zechariah answers in the negative. The angel explains that the message is that this time, the work that has to be done is not through human agency, but through God’s spirit. Through it, the obstacles that stand in the way of completing the building, symbolized by a large mountain, will disappear. Zechariah continues to question, asking about the nature of the olive branches and the seven candles of the lamp. God answers that the candles represent God’s eyes, which cover the entire earth; while the two olive trees represent the two anointed leaders of the people, Joshua the high priest and Zerubbabel the governor.<\/span><\/p>\n

This vision is one of the most famous chapters in the prophets. It is the haftarah for the holiday of Hanukkah, and the vision of the menorah surrounded by the two olive branches became the inspiration for the brothers Gabriel and Maxim Shamir, who used it to design the symbol of the nascent state of Israel in 1948.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In his commentary to the book of Zechariah, Rabbi Hayyim Angel discusses the significance of the choice of this chapter as the haftarah for the holiday of Hanukkah. According to <\/span>Pesikta Rabbati 4, <\/span><\/i>the right choice should have been <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/i>the story of Elijah’s dramatic and fiery confrontation with the priests of Ba’al at Mount Carmel in 1 Kings 19, while according to <\/span>Pesikta Rabbati 8<\/span><\/i>, the first chapter of Zephaniah, with its emphasis on candles as a means of introspection and repentance should have been the haftarah for Chanukah. Clearly some felt that the religious zealously of the Maccabees was the ideal message to preserve for Hanukkah (the Elijah model), others felt that the survival of a few among many wicked, which required introspection, was a more appropriate model to emulate. However, Zechariah’s implied preference for the spiritual victory as opposed to the military miracles won out.<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, the chapter contains one of my favorite inspirational lines in all of prophecy \u2013 God’s rebuke of those who “despised the day of small things”. Rashi connects this to Ezra’s description of the first attempt to rebuild the Temple. While many people rejoiced, others, mostly elderly, mocked and laughed at them. What a pathetic structure \u2013 so small and insignificant. Had they not seen Solomon’s Temple in all its glory and grandeur? Ultimately, their negativity became paralyzing, an excuse for the people not to act. If we can’t do it perfectly, why do it at all?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Says Zechariah, it’s not your job to decide what constitutes success. Do what you can \u2013 let God’s spirit do the rest.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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