Meaningful Moadim
  • Welcome to Meaningful Moadim
    • Index
    • The Shamash's Lesson
    • CHANUKAH >
      • Chanukah: The Festival of Lights >
        • What is Chanukah? >
          • TAKING A MOMENT OUT FOR A CHANUKAH THOUGHT
          • The Name of the Holiday >
            • The Dreidel Teaches the Eternity of the Jewish People >
              • Deeper Meaning of the Dreidel Letters
              • Chanukah: Renewal
              • Allusions to Chanuka in Parshas Mikeitz
              • Connection Between Shabbos and Chanukah
              • Why is there no Mesechta Chanukah?
              • Matisyahu and His Sons
              • What is Chanukah? #2
              • The Maenorah cannot be placed lower than 10 Tefachim
            • Why is Shehechiyanu recited only on the first night of Chanukah?
            • Biblical Allusions
            • Another explanation of the name Chanukah
            • Ve-Al Hnissim, not Al Hanissim
            • Mai Chanukah?
            • Only Chanukah can be performed in a Mehadrin or Mehadrin min Hamehadrin manner
            • Varying Levels of Fulfilling the Mitzvah
            • Mazal Kislev Keshes
            • The Shamash (Candle)
            • Why didn't the Kohanim themselves defile the oil if everyone was tamei, ritually impure due to the war? >
              • Chanukah Always has a Shabbos >
                • Bais Shamai and Bais Hillel (2)
                • Chanukah Always Falls our Around parshas Mikeitz
        • The Lesson of the Dreidel
        • Chanukah: A Winter Festival
        • KISLEV - Great Expectations
        • The Light of the Jewish Soul Glows on Chanukah
        • Pirsumei Nisa on Chanukah
        • Chanukah: A War of Conflicting Philosophies >
          • Why was a holiday established specifically for the war that led to the Chanukah miracle?
          • Uphold Good or Destroy Evil?
          • LeHashkicham Torasecha U’LeHa’aviram MeiChukei Retzonecha
          • Are we celebrating the victory over the Greeks or the Miracle of the Oil?
          • U’Leamcha Yisrael Assisa Teshua Gedola U’furkan K’Hayom Hazeh…
          • Alexander The Great and The Jewish Sages
          • Miracle Oil?
          • Give the Gift of LIGHT!
        • Customs, Symbols & Observances >
          • More Reasons for Doughnuts on Chanukah
          • THE DREIDEL
          • The Letters on the Dreidel >
            • The Lesson of "Chanukah Gelt"
          • More Customs >
            • More About the Dreidel
            • The Lesson of the Dreidel
            • More on Dreidel
            • Another Gematria of the Dreidel Letters
            • Chanukah Gelt
            • L'Hodos U'LaHallel
          • More Symbolism >
            • Symbolism of Olive Oil
            • The Greeks vs. The Jews
            • The Little Jug that Traveled Through Time
            • Gazing at the Neiros Chanukah
            • Patriarchal Prayers
          • The Custom to serve Dairy and Cheese Products on Chanukah
          • Tzedaka - Charity
        • The Shamash >
          • The Secret of the Shamash
        • The Jewish People Are Above Nature >
          • A MODERN DAY CHANUKAH MIRACLE
        • Putting Away the Menorah?
        • Month of Teves: Catastrophic Events
        • Mazal Teves Gedi - Goat
        • Recommended Reading
  • The Final Judgement stretches out to Zos Chanukah
  • The Greeks Wanted to Destroy the Jews Status as the Chosen Nation
  • More on the uniqueness of Klal Yisrael
  • Chanukah Illuminates The Month of Teves
  • The Chasam Sofer on Asara B’Teves
  • Lag B'Omer-

​Matisyahu and His Sons

Matisyahu and His Sons

In examining the Al Hanissim hymn, we encounter the phrase, "In the days of Matisyahu, the high priest and his sons." Matisyahu is referred to as "Hasmonai," which may indicate either his place of origin or a designation of nobility and authority.
​
Matisyahu engaged in combat against the Greeks, exemplified by the phrase "the many in the hands of the few." One may ponder how he achieved victory in this conflict. How did he triumph over the entire Greek kingdom and other nations, as documented by Josephus? It is plausible to suggest that the key to his success lay in the presence of his sons who fought alongside him.
When he summoned his sons to join him in battle against the vast forces of the enemy nations, they willingly accepted the call. They demonstrated no apprehension regarding the potential for annihilation at the hands of their adversaries. Instead, they followed their father into battle, ultimately securing a significant victory.

Furthermore, this dynamic persists across generations; when a father stands united with his sons, and the sons are inspired to follow their father, they maintain a close bond and do not separate from him. This unity enables them to achieve success in formidable and challenging conflicts.


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  • Welcome to Meaningful Moadim
    • Index
    • The Shamash's Lesson
    • CHANUKAH >
      • Chanukah: The Festival of Lights >
        • What is Chanukah? >
          • TAKING A MOMENT OUT FOR A CHANUKAH THOUGHT
          • The Name of the Holiday >
            • The Dreidel Teaches the Eternity of the Jewish People >
              • Deeper Meaning of the Dreidel Letters
              • Chanukah: Renewal
              • Allusions to Chanuka in Parshas Mikeitz
              • Connection Between Shabbos and Chanukah
              • Why is there no Mesechta Chanukah?
              • Matisyahu and His Sons
              • What is Chanukah? #2
              • The Maenorah cannot be placed lower than 10 Tefachim
            • Why is Shehechiyanu recited only on the first night of Chanukah?
            • Biblical Allusions
            • Another explanation of the name Chanukah
            • Ve-Al Hnissim, not Al Hanissim
            • Mai Chanukah?
            • Only Chanukah can be performed in a Mehadrin or Mehadrin min Hamehadrin manner
            • Varying Levels of Fulfilling the Mitzvah
            • Mazal Kislev Keshes
            • The Shamash (Candle)
            • Why didn't the Kohanim themselves defile the oil if everyone was tamei, ritually impure due to the war? >
              • Chanukah Always has a Shabbos >
                • Bais Shamai and Bais Hillel (2)
                • Chanukah Always Falls our Around parshas Mikeitz
        • The Lesson of the Dreidel
        • Chanukah: A Winter Festival
        • KISLEV - Great Expectations
        • The Light of the Jewish Soul Glows on Chanukah
        • Pirsumei Nisa on Chanukah
        • Chanukah: A War of Conflicting Philosophies >
          • Why was a holiday established specifically for the war that led to the Chanukah miracle?
          • Uphold Good or Destroy Evil?
          • LeHashkicham Torasecha U’LeHa’aviram MeiChukei Retzonecha
          • Are we celebrating the victory over the Greeks or the Miracle of the Oil?
          • U’Leamcha Yisrael Assisa Teshua Gedola U’furkan K’Hayom Hazeh…
          • Alexander The Great and The Jewish Sages
          • Miracle Oil?
          • Give the Gift of LIGHT!
        • Customs, Symbols & Observances >
          • More Reasons for Doughnuts on Chanukah
          • THE DREIDEL
          • The Letters on the Dreidel >
            • The Lesson of "Chanukah Gelt"
          • More Customs >
            • More About the Dreidel
            • The Lesson of the Dreidel
            • More on Dreidel
            • Another Gematria of the Dreidel Letters
            • Chanukah Gelt
            • L'Hodos U'LaHallel
          • More Symbolism >
            • Symbolism of Olive Oil
            • The Greeks vs. The Jews
            • The Little Jug that Traveled Through Time
            • Gazing at the Neiros Chanukah
            • Patriarchal Prayers
          • The Custom to serve Dairy and Cheese Products on Chanukah
          • Tzedaka - Charity
        • The Shamash >
          • The Secret of the Shamash
        • The Jewish People Are Above Nature >
          • A MODERN DAY CHANUKAH MIRACLE
        • Putting Away the Menorah?
        • Month of Teves: Catastrophic Events
        • Mazal Teves Gedi - Goat
        • Recommended Reading
  • The Final Judgement stretches out to Zos Chanukah
  • The Greeks Wanted to Destroy the Jews Status as the Chosen Nation
  • More on the uniqueness of Klal Yisrael
  • Chanukah Illuminates The Month of Teves
  • The Chasam Sofer on Asara B’Teves
  • Lag B'Omer-