Most of us celebrate Chanuka and thank Hashem for both the military victory for Independence over the Greeks, as well as the oil lasting 8 days in the Beit HaMikdash (Rambam, Chanuka, 3). Unfortunately, one can find many secular kindergartens, schools and families who commemorate the military aspect of the holiday, but ignore the Menorah, and contrarily Haredim who celebrate the Beit HaMikdash, but play down the military side. Some feel uncomfortable remembering that the Maccabees fought to observe Shabbat, while others feel wary of triggering their children to ask: “so why doesn’t my Tatty serve in the IDF and fight for the Holy People in the Holy Land like the Maccabees?”
Rav Zvi Yehuda Kook often stressed that תורת ה’ תמימה”” (Tehilim 19, 8), the Living Torah is a package-deal from the G-d of monotheism, which unites both the spiritual and the physical/national needs of Israel. The Reform Jews built an ideology out of “Cherry Picking” the mitzvot which they like and suppressing those they don’t. Regarding Chanukah, both of the above aspects are true, but only half the story. Rav Zvi Yehuda did not like the term religious-Zionist, because both are encompassed in the one and only original Judaism. All of our Tanach heroes had no need for hyphens!
Our present battles with Hamas and Hizballah demonstrate to all that not only the original but also the future Israeli leadership should be led by the bridging religious-Zionists who harmonize and unify the complete Jew, “A healthy soul in a healthy body”, “ומצא חן ושכל טוב בעיני א-להים ואדם”, “find favor and logic in (both) the view of G-d and man” (Mishlei 3, 4 and Birkat HaMazon). As opposed to Galut-Torah, our Living Torah obligates total observance, including serving in the Wars of Mitzva against the enemies of Israel (Rambam, Hil. M’lachim u’Milchamoteihem ch. 5-7), just like learning Torah, Shabbat, Love of Israel et al. We can’t know better than Hashem, and would be wise not to Cherry-Pick regarding His mitzvot. Rather simply do them all, uniting them all together which can and will eventually unite the opposing factions within Israel, not just on Chanuka but all year round. With Love of Israel, Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)