Rav Hutner, zt"l, in his Pachad Yitzchak points out that only in Galus Yavan did our Beis HaMikdash remain standing throughout. If the Beis HaMikdash was our most important place in the world, the heart and soul of the Jewish people, why didn't the Greeks destroy it? Wouldn't that certainly cripple the nation?

Also, if the Greeks knew that we used oil for our menorah why just impurify it? Why not spill it out or, even better, use it themselves?

The gemora in Meggila (9a) also is difficult to understand. The gemora relates that King Talmai of the Greek Empire had seventy-two rabbanim translate the Torah into Greek. Chazal say that this was a terrible event in Klal Yisroel's history. What was King Talmai doing? Why was it so important to translate the Torah? And, what was so terrible about it? In our own days we've translated the Torah into many languages with the blessings of the sages of our times!

One last question. It's brought that Alexander the Great, upon conquering Eretz Yisrael, demanded that the Jews erect a statue in the Beis HaMikdash. With great diplomacy the Jews convinced him to agree instead to all legal documents and letters being dated according to the beginning of his empire. Instead of using our system of dating we would write what year it was in the Alexander kingdom. This is certainly very flattering but what does it have to do with putting a statue in the Temple? If one is coming in place of the other there must be some similarity between them.

To answer these questions we need to understand the Greek outlook on chachma, knowledge. Theres probably never been a people throughout history who've striven in the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom as the Greeks. Whether in science, math, philosophy or any other field of education, the Greeks excelled, leading the other nations in the understanding of the world around them. The Rambam writes about the great knowledge of Aristotle and that he was correct in everything he wrote about science. Even much of todays technology can find its earliest roots in the Greek culture. Their great thirst and love for understanding certainly made them the enlightened people of their times.

Yet despite all the chachma and great advances in the Greek society, one thing that did not grow was man himself. Although he may have understood nature, he failed to incorporate his vast knowledge into his own personal life. There was no idea of one G-d above and certainly no attempt to purify himself and connect with his Creator. Knowledge was in the head and had nothing to do with ethics or religion. As we see in our own days, it's not a contradiction to be a world-renowned scientist or leader and still be an individual that you would never want your children to emulate. Brilliance and righteousness have very little to do with each other.

In this matter we clearly see how the chachma of the Greeks differed from the chachma of Torah. Torah comes from the word horaa, teaching. Torah learning must be accompanied with the understanding of how to teach oneself to become a better person. All the vast segments of Torah are for one purpose, to make the individual into a better person vis--vis himself, his fellow man, and Hashem. The most brilliant rabbi or teacher will be a failure if they dont live what theyre teaching to the best of their abilities.

The Greeks werent against having a giant building in Yerushalayim. It was certainly one of the most beautiful structures in the world. Gold, silver, copper why destroy such a fine edifice? Just dont use it for this religion business. Knowledge is an end in itself, and besides what we cant see or understand doesnt exist anyway. Therefore the Greeks left the building and its vessels, simply impurifying them so that no religion should be practiced.

Talmai wasnt against the Torah. It was the most knowledgeable book ever written. Therefore he had it translated to be just another library book on the shelves of the Greek universities. Come study Bible 1.1. Another philosophy book.

Alexander the Great didnt care if the Temple was defiled or secularized, as long as we removed G-d and a divine creation from our lives. All that counts is that we use our brains and bodies for secular advancements.

Torah must never be treated as another subject. If a child grows up looking at his school curriculum being science, math, Chumash, halacha, and geography or his choices in the work world as being medicine, law, rabbanus, or computers then the Greeks have won. Its just another subject.

Torah must be learnt and taught with enthusiasm and love, understanding that youre creating a kesher with the Ribono Shel Olam. Its not another subject to be studied. Its our way of life. Whether youre learning it alone, or with a chavrusa, or at a shiur, or even in a university setting the approach must be that chachmas haTorah is unlike any other chachma in the world. The Greeks didnt win.

The Ramban writes that our Chanukah menoras are a continuation of the menora in the Beis HaMikdash. Just as the menora in the Beis HaMikdash represented chachmas haTorah so too the Chanukah lights. This year when we light our candles let us also light the candles in our hearts to strengthen our Torah learning and Torah observance. With Hashems help, through those lights well be zoche to once again see the menorah in the Beis HaMikdash blazing, Bimhaira Biyameinu. Amen