Overt and Covert Miracles

          Rabbi Yehonatan of Lunel (late 12^th, early 13^th centuries) asserts that our Sages established the holiday of Ḥanukka to memorialize the Hasmonean victory over the Greeks. The additional miracle of the oil led the Sages to add the ritual of lighting the Ḥanukka menora, as a reminder of the double miracles of Ḥanukka.

          In a similar vein, Maharal of Prague suggests that our Sages established the holiday of Ḥanukka primarily to commemorate the military victory over the Greeks. However, the military victory can be seen as a natural event. (Despite the fact that the war was “the few against many”, one could attribute the victory to Judah Maccabee’s genius in guerrilla warfare.) Thus, God provided the miracle of the oil, which is an overt miracle.

          Essentially, the overt miracle of the oil informs us that the military victory was no less miraculous. Beyond that, the miracle of the oil teaches an additional lesson: the purpose of the military victory was a spiritual end: rededication of the Temple and the ability to renew the service.