10303 —על טהרה, טומאה, ונס חנוכה

On Purity, Impurity, and the Chanukah Miracle

טבת, ה'תשל"ב
The Rebbe addresses an interpretation regarding the Chanukah miracle, clarifying that the concepts of purity and impurity, as well as the victory of the righteous, apply specifically to the Jewish people. The acknowledgment in Tehillim refers to the triumph of the righteous.
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[טבת, ה'תשל"ב]

שלום וברכה!

לציטוטו של כת"ר מסי' אוצר התפלות שמבאר הנס במסירת טמאים ביד טהורים וכו' עפמרז"ל גוים דאכלי שקצים חבול גופייהו (שבת פו, ב)

ומאן

קצירי רבנן וכו' – לפענ"ד אינו נראה

כלל

, שהרי כבר נאמר גבורים ביד חלשים.

ומה

שנ"ל – ובהקדם שאמיתית הגדר דטומאה וטהרה וכן בנוגע

לצדיק

* ועוסק

בתורה

** – שייך רק בבנ"י, והמכוון בג' סוגים דטמאים רשעים וזדים הוא להמתיוונים. וההודאה בזה היא ע"ד מש"נ כו"כ פעמים בתהלים וכו' הודאה על נצחון הצדיק וכיו"ב.

Tevet, 5732.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

Regarding the citation from Otzar HaTefillot that explains the miracle as delivering the impure into the hands of the pure, etc., based on what is said about nations who eat impure things damaging their bodies (Shabbat 86b), and that 'the sickle-bearers are the sages,' etc.—in my opinion this does not seem correct at all, for it already says 'the mighty into the hands of the weak.'

And what was asked—firstly, that the true definition of impurity and purity, as well as regarding a tzaddik and one who studies Torah, applies only among Jews. The intent in mentioning three types—the impure, wicked, and wanton sinners—is to refer to those who became Hellenists. The acknowledgment here is as stated many times in Tehillim: it is gratitude for the victory of the tzaddik and similar matters.


Summary

The Rebbe clarifies that purity and impurity are uniquely Jewish concepts; Chanukah's miracle celebrates not just military victory but also spiritual triumph over those who adopted foreign ways. True gratitude is for the victory of righteousness.

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