Timeless TorahLeave 'Em Puzzled
The last soldier marched through the gates; the heavy wooden doors were swung shut and the iron bolts moved into their sockets. Erect and gloomy, the captain of the Syrian-Greek garrison stood awaiting the report. “Just outside the walls of the city,” the corporal stated, already feeling trapped.
The captain calculated their chance of holding out until the Syrian army, defeated in the field, could reorganize and come to their aid. He stood there worried, evaluating the tiny Acra fortress and his few pitiful soldiers having to stand up against that army of farmers and their mysterious G-d.
Before the wall of the city, Judah the Maccabee and his army halted. The moment had come. No resistance was expected. The Syrian fortress was small and the best the invader could hope to do was defend the Acra and perhaps make an occasional sortie.
Judah’s plan was straightforward. Take the Acra by assault and cleanse Jerusalem of all foreign invaders. With an exultant shout the Jews passed the wall.
Silent streets, deserted houses! “Is this Jerusalem, the heavenly city of gold?” /To reach the Acra it was necessary to go by the Holy Temple. They stopped and stared. The ancient doors were torn from their hinges and weeds covered the altar.
There could be no further talk about attacking the Acra. The Temple became a beehive of activity as fighters turned into builders. Idols were smashed and removed, utensils cleaned or replaced. But what to do for oil that was to fuel the Menorah? Only one cruse was to be found. They lit the candelabra and began singing the ancient Psalms of David.
That night and for eight successive days, the Syrians were forgotten. Not far off, the captain at Acra, watching from the tower was relieved and puzzled.
Dateline: Contemporary America - All around the city, the shopkeepers strung up their flashing lights hoping to attract the youngsters who would drag their parents into the malls. Bells were ringing and cries of ho-ho-ho pervaded the streets. But that night as the little Menorah was taken out of the cupboard, the child sat engrossed by the tiny candles and their flickering flames. Soon the shops and their ostentatious display of materialism were forgotten.
At the store watching from his post behind the cash register, the owner was puzzled.
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