I recently heard a Chanukah lecture from Rabbi Jacobson about style versus substance

It’s really amazing! For unlike say Purim which was an annihilation decree, Chanukah really resonates today!

 

For Chanukah was a very similar kind of battle between secular and spiritual forces with the underlying themes – conflict– being illuminating;

 

The Greeks were aesthetically motivated – their passion was for beauty, hence in science they sought not meaning rather beauty – many people can also get fooled by seeing a superficial albeit genuine beauty, including in wisdom – the wow – of miracles, say, the galaxy etc. etc. but not take the deeper message!

 

Judaism doesn’t negate anything which can be used for a higher purpose, hence beauty, wisdom etc. etc. has its place, however it doesn’t get stuck in these things!

 

I recall, I once visited some museum in upstate New York with an interesting friend – a bit of an eclectic guy – who asked me, why don’t we see objects of beauty in Judaism?

 

The truth is, he is right – there are absolutely beautiful churches – touring Europe, a large part of the tour books are simply seeing the architecture of churches – one, the tour book said, was built over five hundred years! – so there is a great emphases on esthetics.

 

Perhaps the novelty of western culture is ­only in esthetics, for our cities and countries are clean and pleasant to be in.

 

But that is also the downfall!!!

 

For every motive only goes as far, or circles within, its motive.

 

So if life is simply about my personal pleasure, which I gain from seeing something beautiful, that becomes the end of my entire life as well – it’s sort of hibernating in a beautiful place, but it goes no further, than this simple pleasure.

 

Judaism believes, that we are Divine, we have Divine potential, and as the Chanukah lights teach us, yesterdays beauty should never hold you hostage; for today, you are, and can, make the world a far more beautiful place!