In Those Days, at This Time

            The Apocryphal book First Maccabees is considered both historically accurate and faithful to Jewish tradition.

            First Maccabees’ description of Judah Maccabee’s preparations for battle demonstrates his sincere faith in Divine assistance on behalf of Israel, as well as his conviction that his struggle is for Israel’s sake.

            Thus Judah responded to his men’s fears before the engagement at the Bet Ḥoron pass:

"It is easy for many to be hemmed in by few, for in the sight of Heaven there is no difference between saving by many or by few. It is not on the size of the army that victory in battle depends, but strength comes from Heaven. They come against us in great pride and lawlessness to destroy us and our wives and our children, and to despoil; but we fight for our lives and our laws. He himself will crush them before us; as for you, do not be afraid of them."                         I Maccabees 3:18-22

            Before leading his fighters into the Battle of Emmaus, his most brilliant victory, (which is taught until today in the United States War College) Judah encouraged them with these words:

"Do not fear their numbers or be afraid when they charge. Remember how our fathers were saved at the Red Sea, when Pharaoh with his forces pursued them. And now let us cry to Heaven, to see whether He will favor us and remember His covenant with our fathers and crush this army before us today. Then all the Gentiles will know that there is One Who redeems and saves Israel."                         Ibid.4:8-10

            Al haNissim, the special prayer added on Hanukka, speaks of “… the battles which You did for our fathers in those days, at this time..” This phrase carries special significance, since, in fact, some of Judah Maccabee’s battlegrounds were the scenes of engagements fought by the Israel Defense Forces, modern Israel’s army.

            Clearly the extent to which modern Israel’s military leaders possess the same fervor as Judah Maccabee exhibited more than twenty-one centuries ago is the extent to which the security of the State will be increased.