ON THE SIXTH NIGHT OF HANUKKAH we read the following story in our household:
After being liberated from Egypt the Hebrews spent time in the wilderness along their journey to the Promised Land. During this time Moses was summoned by God to the mountaintop to receive the 10 commandments. As the days and weeks and months passed the people became anxious. The people asked Aaron, the brother of Moses to make a gold calf for them to worship like the ones in Egypt. Aaron tried to calm them down and told them to be patient in waiting for Moses to return but they grew impatient. They wanted to see, touch, taste and feel “God”. Finally Aaron consented to make a golden god but noted that the women must give up their jewelry for this to happen. The women refused.
“Our husbands and fathers and sons may have forgotten God’s promises but not us, “ they declared. This bought Aaron a little time. Eventually, however, he found himself being forced to make a golden calf from the men’s jewelry which they were wearing according to the Egyptian customs. When Moses returned from the mountain with stone tablets etched with the 10 commandments he punished the men, all except those form the tribe of Levi who had held their ground and refused to participate in making false gods. They were rewarded by becoming the priests. And the women were given a time of rest which is still observed and honored to this day.
And this is why fathers tell their sons and grandfathers tell the fathers, if your wife or the women of your tribe refuse to do something there is probably a very good reason why they are holding their ground. Trust them. We are born of them. They give birth to our children and they seek solutions that do not compromise the safety of the tribe.
THIS IS A NIGHT TO REMEMBER THAT FREEDOM IS OBTAINED BY HOLDING YOUR GROUND, HOLDING FAST TO YOUR FAITH AND BELIEVING THAT GOD WILL BRING YOU TO THE PROMISED LAND IF YOU DO NOT ABANDON YOUR VOWS TO HIM AND THE COVENANT TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND BRINGS HARM TO NO ONE.