For תרס”א 6
כשעמדה מלכות יון הרשעה להשכיחם תורתך.
“When the wicked Greek empire arose to make them forget Your Torah.”
The Sefat Emet opens by defining the Greek threat as an assault on memory itself—the erasure of Torah consciousness from Israel.
כי הי’ להם חכמה טבעיות וזו החכמה מביא שכחת השגחת הבורא ית”ש.
“For they possessed natural sciences, and this wisdom brings forgetfulness of the Creator’s providence.”
The Greeks elevated human intellect and the laws of nature, which obscures awareness of divine supervision.
ובנ”י נבראו להעיד על הבורא שהוא מנהיג כל הטבע.
“But the Children of Israel were created to testify about the Creator, that He governs all of nature.”
Israel’s role is to reveal that nature itself is guided by a living divine Presence.
יון גי’ גלגל.
“‘Greece’ has the same numerical value as ‘sphere’ (galgal).”
The Greeks mastered astronomy and the celestial spheres.
שהיו בקיאין בחכמת גלגל המזלות.
“For they were experts in the science of the celestial sphere.”
Their wisdom concerned the predictable motions of the heavens.
אבל באמת הנהגת כל הגלגל הכל עפ”י הנהגה עליונה.
“But in truth, the movement of every sphere is governed by a higher, divine guidance.”
The Sefat Emet insists that celestial mechanics are only expressions of divine will.
וכמ”ש בספרי קודש אנכי ה’ אלקיך.
“As it is written in holy books: ‘I am the Lord your God.’”
This verse is understood as a declaration of divine rule over all cosmic motion.
אלקיך גי’ גלגל.
“‘Your God’ has the same numerical value as ‘sphere.’”
The divine Name is the root of all cyclical motion.
וגי’ היה הוה יהיה.
“And it equals ‘He was, He is, He will be.’”
This expresses eternal constancy behind the changing cycles of nature.
שמאתו בא כל אלה הגלגלים שמתהפכין תמיד מראשן לסופן הכל לכבודו ברא להודיע שהוא ראשון והוא אחרון.
“For from Him come all these spheres that constantly turn from beginning to end; all were created for His glory, to proclaim that He is First and He is Last.”
All cosmic motion is designed to manifest divine eternity.
וז”ש כי היא חכמתכם ובינתכם.
“And this is what is meant by: ‘For this is your wisdom and understanding.’”
This verse points to Israel’s unique divine-rooted wisdom.
דרשו חז”ל זה חכמת חשבון המזלות.
“Our sages expounded: this refers to the science of calculating the constellations.”
Israel’s wisdom includes knowledge of the heavens, but with awareness of their divine source.
פי’ שחכמי ישראל יודעין שורש כל החשבונות הללו.
“Meaning: the sages of Israel know the root of all these calculations.”
They see beyond astronomy to its spiritual origin.
ולכן נקראו סוד העיבור שהוא שורש כל מהלך המזלות עפ”י הנהגה עליונה.
“Therefore it is called the ‘Secret of Intercalation,’ the root of all motions of the constellations, according to the higher guidance.”
The Jewish calendar represents the deeper, divine rhythm behind natural cycles.
וזו חכמה האמיתית כמ”ש הן יראת ה’ היא חכמה.
“And this is true wisdom, as it is written: ‘Behold, the fear of God — that is wisdom.’”
Real wisdom recognizes divine presence within nature.
אבל חכמת הטבע אדרבה מביא לשכוח את הבורא.
“But natural science, on the contrary, leads to forgetting the Creator.”
When nature is seen as autonomous, it obscures the divine.
ולכן תיקנו להלל ולהודות שע”י הודאה והלל לה’ על כל הדברים זה מביא הזכרון שלא להיות נטבע תוך הטבע ולבוא לשכחה.
“Therefore they instituted praise and thanksgiving, for through giving thanks and praise to God for all things, one is brought to remembrance, preventing immersion in nature and falling into forgetfulness.”
Chanuka’s liturgy restores divine-centered awareness.
וכמ”ש ז”ל ולא שכחתי מלברכך שהברכה מביא זכרון וכמ”ש זכירה בפה.
“As our sages said: ‘I did not forget to bless You,’ for blessing brings remembrance, as it is said: remembrance through the mouth.”
Speaking blessings keeps divine presence alive in consciousness.
The Sefat Emet explains that Greek wisdom glorified nature as autonomous, leading to spiritual forgetfulness. Israel’s role is to reveal divine governance behind all natural cycles, and Chanuka restores this awareness through praise and thanksgiving, which reawaken memory of God.
