by Rabbi Shlomo Aviner December 08, 2004:
It is lucky that Yehudah the Maccabee did not ask politicians, because if he had, they would have told him that one must consider the possible international pressure in the overall constellation, and he would have sat and deliberated and deliberated.
It is lucky that he did not ask too many military strategists and experts, for they would have told him differently - that there is no chance of delivering "the strong into the hands of the weak," and they would have broken his spirit.
It is lucky that he did not ask statisticians, because they would have revealed the secret to him that we are "the few against the many," and he would have been afraid of the demographic demon.
He also did not ask too many Roshei Yeshivot (Heads of Yeshivas), because if he had, they would have ruled that it is forbidden to cause nullification of Torah learning from yeshiva students who engage in Torah study, and then there would not be a delivering of "the heretics into the hands of those involved in Your Torah."
He also did not ask too many rabbis, because if he had, they would have told him, by G-d, it is forbidden to challenge the nations of the world, and we do not rely on a miracle, especially where there is a real potential for danger, etc., etc.
He also did not ask the humanists, because they would have revealed the secret to him that one soul of Israel is worth more than kilometers of land and is more costly for the nation.
He certainly did not ask those who are pure-of-heart, because they would have depressed his spirit, and preached to him that it is not at all proper to kill or to be killed.
He did not ask deep thinkers, because out of great depth they would have confused him and stopped him with discussions of the order of priorities, perhaps the nation takes precedence, etc., etc.
He did not ask the pacifists at all, because they would have illuminated his eyes to the greatness of peace, and that one should never use violence, that goodwill will resolve everything.
He did not ask too many questions, but he served his national and spiritual obligation and jumped into the lion's den, with amazing self-sacrifice, into the great battle, which saved Israel. And then, all of the politicians, all of the strategists, all of the statisticians, all of the Roshei Yeshiva and rabbis, all of the humanists, all of the pure-of-heart, all of the thinkers and all of the pacifists came and, all of them, became sages after the fact. They lit Chanukah lights as a remembrance of the victory, and these lights illuminate our lives from those days until this time.
