Adapted from Rabbi Aryeh Bruckheimer’s Al Harishonim

On Chanukah We reflect. We mention the Chashmona'im in two Berachot: Al HaNissim and Ma’oz Tzur. The Chashmona'im lived in a time where the Jewish people faced the challenge of remaining steadfast in their Torah observance in the midst of the surrounding Hellenistic society. Because of their loyalty to Torah and Mitzvot in these times of hardship, they were Zocheh to incredible miracles and Yeshu’ot from Hashem. They defeated the mighty Greeks and the one bottle of oil lasted for all eight days. 

However, it seems that the Chashmona'im were in the wrong regarding one matter. In the Berachah that Ya’akov Avinu gave to Yehudah before his death says, “Lo Yasur Sheivet MiYehudah,” “The scepter shall not depart from Yehudah” (BeReishit 49:10). The Ramban explains that the kingship should not be removed from Yehudah. Despite their triumphs, the Chashmona'im were eventually destroyed because they assumed the throne and did not restore the kingship to the Davidic Line. The Shelah HaKadosh, however, gives us some relief in his explanation of this Ramban. He explains that the Chashmona'im were acting for Hashem’s sake, as they felt that if they didn’t reign, the continuity of Klal Yisrael’s observance of Torah and Mitzvot would be in jeopardy. Therefore, it seems that the words of Ya’akov Avinu are so powerful that the Chashmonaic reign was terminated despite its righteous intentions. 

With the understanding that the Chashmona'im acted LeSheim Shamayim, the Sefat Emet takes things one step further and says that they in fact viewed themselves as a temporary extension of Malchut Beit David. They believed that their reign was necessary to sustain Klal Yisrael’s allegiance to Torah and Mitzvot, and even credited their accomplishments to David HaMelech’s merit. May we learn from the Chashmona'im’s selfless dedication to the continuation of Torah and implement such passion in ensuring that we take on their mission of safeguarding the Torah and passing it down to the next generation.