the Prayers of the Patriarchs:
Chanukah and the Future of Our People
The Meor Einayim (Miketz) writes, "It is known that the avos davened during their lifetime for what will occur in the future up to when Moshiach will come, may it be speedily in our days."
For example, at Akeidas Yitzchak, Avraham said (Bereishis 22:5), וַאֲנִי וְהַנַּעַר, נֵלְכָה עַד-כֹּה, and כ’’ה hints to כ’’ה כסלו, the date of Chanukah. The Meor Einayim explains, "Avraham davened they should win the war against the Yevanim in the days of Matisyahu.
"Yosef HaTzaddik spoke to Binyamin and said (Bereishis 43:29),אֱלֹהִים יָחְנְךָ בְּנִי hints to חנוכה. [Yosef davened] that Hashem should perform miracles on Chanukah."
The avos davened for our generation, too. We can be certain that our adherence to Yiddishkeit until today is mainly in the merit of the avos's tefillos. As the Meor Einayim writes, "Our ability to be strong in Torah and mitzvos is all because our forefathers davened for us."
For example, at Akeidas Yitzchak, Avraham said (Bereishis 22:5), וַאֲנִי וְהַנַּעַר, נֵלְכָה עַד-כֹּה, and כ’’ה hints to כ’’ה כסלו, the date of Chanukah. The Meor Einayim explains, "Avraham davened they should win the war against the Yevanim in the days of Matisyahu.
"Yosef HaTzaddik spoke to Binyamin and said (Bereishis 43:29),אֱלֹהִים יָחְנְךָ בְּנִי hints to חנוכה. [Yosef davened] that Hashem should perform miracles on Chanukah."
The avos davened for our generation, too. We can be certain that our adherence to Yiddishkeit until today is mainly in the merit of the avos's tefillos. As the Meor Einayim writes, "Our ability to be strong in Torah and mitzvos is all because our forefathers davened for us."
Excerpted from Wellsprings of Torah by Rabbi Elimelech Biederman - Vayishlach 5784
