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Chidushay Bang:

Rushing into Greek Week
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"Shabbangitout Shalom!!!"

Bang the Rabbi, "Shabbangitout Shalom" Series, Presents:

Rushing into 'Greek Week'
(getting ready for chanukah in this week's parsha)

by middle name naphtali correspondent Avi Korn

Rav Gadaliah Shor notes that a strong connection exists between this medrash and one later on in Vayikra that uses the same verse to refer to the 4 exiles of Israel: Amon, Babylonia, Greece, and the present Roman exile. Rav Shor notes this connection to be a prime instance of Maa'seh Avos, Siman La'Banim (the actions of the forefathers portend those of their children), that in fact each trying event of Yaakov mirrors an exile of the Jewish people. Since Chanukah is quickly coming upon us - we will explore the similarities between the defilement of Dinah to the Exile of Greece:

1. The name 'Yisroel': Rav Shor points out that the events surrounding Dinah marks the first time that "Yisroel" is used with reference to the Jewish People [Bereishis 34:7]. We find that only after these events does Hashem proclaim Yaakov's new name to be Yisroel. The Greeks wished to dispel the exclusive importance of the name of Yisroel and therefore proclaimed that all jews must write "We have no portion in the G-d of Yisroel" on the horns of their cattle. The prime goal of the Greeks was not physical harm, but to assimilate the Jewish people and take away their religious identity. This was attempted through the destruction of the concept of "Yisroel"

2. The defilement of Bas Yisroel: Dinah's defilement at the hands of Shechem was not only looked upon as a desecration of their sister, but of the Jewish people as a whole. As it says, "He had wrought a vile deed in Israel in lying with Jacob's daughter" [Bereishis 34:7]. The Greeks, too, diminished the sanctity of Israel by decreeing that the governor defile newly married Jewish brides.

3. Circumcision: We find that Shechem agreed to circumcise himself and his people in exchange for Dinah at the direction of Yaakov's sons. The importance of this mitzvah is seen in the Greek's prohibition of circumcision, in an effort to eliminate the physical differences between Jews and the other nations. In both instances, bris milah is a differentiating factor which is mitigated in order to facilitate integration.

4. Eretz Yisroel: Of all Yaakov's struggles, the events transpiring with Dinah were the only ones to take place in Israel. The golus of Greece was also unique in that it was the only golus that took place on Eretz Yisroel's soil, without actually exiling Jews.

5. Removing the impurity: After the events surrounding Dinah, Yaakov prepares an altar and commands the tribes to "'Put away the strange gods that are among you, and purify yourselves, and change your garments" [Bereishis 35:2]. In Ohr Gedalyahu, Rav Shor likens these events to the re-purification of the Beis Hamikdash after beating the Greeks and removing the idols and pagan altars erected by Antiochus.

As an aside, the final golus of present, is likened to the sale of Yosef. The obvious connection between the two events is sinas chinum. The Bnai Yaakov came to sell Yosef out of needless hatred for their brother. This sinas chinam, or baseless hatred, is the same reason why we reside in golus today. Rav Solovetchik has said that every haftorah of the year mentions or makes reference to Israel except this one. The reason is because of the baseless hatred that is the theme of parshas Vayeshev - and our redemption to Israel can never come about while sinas chinum exists among us. Maa'seh Avos, Siman La'Banim, though, gives us the opportunity to examine the actions of our forefathers to help speed the geulah today.

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