<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=windows-1252"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;"><blockquote type="cite" style="font-family: ArialMT;"><font color="#000000">The question is asked why it is that the Chanukah episode portrays our people resisting the<br>enemy militarily, waging war for their independence, while on Purim they relied solely on<br>a Divine miracle. The striking answer given is that on Chanukah G-d’s Torah was in danger </font></blockquote> and the Jews took up arms in defense of their G-d given heritage, whereas on Purim the <div> Jewish people were threatened with extinction and it was G-d’s turn to intervene on behalf of His people. <blockquote type="cite" style="font-family: ArialMT;"><font color="#000000"><br>The more authentic explanation, however, is that the difference between the critical periods <br>as reflected by the two festivals, is that while the Purim episode took place in the Galut, the<br>Chanukah story occurred in the Holy Land. On its own soil the Jews have the courage and<br>resolution to FIGHT back! In the Galut the Jews are helpless, depending upon the good graces<br>of its neighbors for survival. <br>Time and again Israel has had to take up arms against vicious enemies bent on its annihilation. </font></blockquote><br><blockquote type="cite" style="font-family: ArialMT;"><font color="#000000">Israel has triumphed and will continue to be victorious in the recognition that it has the<br>right and obligation to keep what it has built with its own blood and sweat. <br></font><br><font color="#000000">A freilichin Purim.</font></blockquote></div></body></html>