Women's Role in Chanukah: Fighting the War Against Greek Values

Rabbi Zweig opens with a fundamental question: Why does the Talmud (תלמוד) obligate women in lighting Chanukah (חנוכה) candles when women are generally exempt from time-bound mitzvos? The Gemara (גמרא) explains that women were central to the Chanukah miracle, but this requires understanding—especially since Rashi (רש"י)'s explanation about Mattathias's daughter seducing and killing the Greek general seems insufficient to make women the primary agents of the miracle. The shiur introduces a striking historical fact found in both Rashi (in Parshas V'Zos HaBracha on the blessing to Levi) and the Rambam (רמב"ם) (in Hilchos Chanukah): only twelve people—the Chashmonaim family—fought the actual war against the Greeks. With hundreds of thousands or millions of Jews in Israel, why didn't they recruit an army? Jewish law prohibits relying on miracles; one must do everything humanly possible. Yet only twelve people confronted the most powerful military force in the world. This parallels Avrohom Avinu, who with only Eliezer fought four kings' armies—but that too seems like prohibited suicide rather than proper military strategy.