Friday 14 December 2012

Purim, Chanuka, and the Churban

After the Churban Habayit, the principle of Bat'lah M'gillat Ta'anit was applied to several days that had been celebrated during Bayyit Sheini

What about Purim and Chanuka?

One approach to take is that Purim had been instituted by N'vi'im - hence it was not subject to Bittul...

Here is an alternative approach -

Purim never gave us Political Independence nor a Hanukkat Hamizbei'ach; whereas Chanuka did.

As such, when the Churban ensued there was no reason to be M'vatiel Purim, since after Purim we were Avdei Achashveirosh, and after the Churban we were still Avdei Rome

OTOH l'gabei Chanuka, the most significant gains had indeed been lost - "Batlah M'gillas Taanit" so to speak, either literally or metaphorically. And so there was no imperative to continue Chanuka.

This helps to explain Chanuka's virtual absence from the Mishnah.

Best Regards,
RW

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