I know that at times my faith is sorely tested, as I am sure is true for some of you. Tragic, senseless acts of violence, accidents or illness and disease have some silently screaming to Hashem, “Why!?” In spite of our best efforts, a flicker of doubt gnaws at us and we wonder if He is paying attention to our cries.
As limited mortals, it’s challenging – whether we admit it to ourselves or not – to maintain a pure, unquestioning bitachon. Not everyone is capable of not questioning relentless suffering – especially in the face of the multi-faceted blessings of those who are unquestionably resha’im.
I marvel at the Sanz-Klausenberg Rebbe who lost his entire family, a wife and 11 children in the Holocaust, yet fully trusted that Hashem’s decrees had a purpose and a reason. But most of us are not on his spiritual madraiga. We lesser beings need a reminder that justice does occur. Chanukah is a very needed annual reminder of this fact. It helps those with doubts to hang in there and stay the course.
The Syrian Greeks felt it necessary to force their culture and religion on the inhabitants of the land their armies had conquered. While taking the land and resources of a weaker country was the way of the world (and still is), destroying the people spiritually in addition to materially was a spiteful evil.
Perhaps Hashem realizes we need “proof” that He is running the world and hence to those “doubting Thomas’” who feel life is so unfair, our Creator, via miracles like Chanukah, lets us know that He is aware of everything and is in control. It is a message that the bad and ugly that afflict us is for a reason, as He can just as easily provide good and right. Chanukah is a reminder that He is not unaware or incapable of stopping evil – He has His own inscrutable chesbon and agenda for both individuals and the Jewish people.
That is why some people, for example, recover from a serious illness, while others with the same infliction or injury do not, despite the fact that thousands of perakim of tehillim were recited equally for the patients. Hashem is showing us that He is capable of bestowing both a positive or negative outcome – but that He has His reasons – whether we think it’s fair or not.
As we light our Chanukah candles and watch their flames dance, let the light remind us that Hashem is the Master of the universe, and His reasoning is enigmatic and beyond human understanding. Our mandate is to accept our Creator’s will with trust, love and faith. That is the only path to true peace of mind and the ability to live our lives b’simcha.