Missing Chanukah
Both secular Jews and Orthodox Jews are sometimes ignorant of Chanukah
Some people miss Chanukah when it's over.
Some people miss Chanukah when it's happening.
Story number one: Several years ago I was once at a printing house, arranging to print a sample chapter about leopards from the Torah Encyclopedia of the Animal Kingdom (and you can download the chapter for free on this page). I told the secular Israeli woman in charge of the printing schedule that I wanted it out in time for Chanukah, because the subject matter is related to Chanukah.
"What do leopards have to do with Chanukah?" she asked.
It was a very reasonable question. I explained that in Scripture, Daniel has a prophetic vision in which he sees various animals which represent different kingdoms. He sees a leopard (with four heads and four wings!), which represents Greece.
"But what does Greece have to do with Chanukah? she asked.
Story number two: I heard a dvar Torah which, as a launching point, discussed the halachah that if the candles on the menorah blow out, you need not rekindle them. The speaker went on to describe how the message of Chanukah is that everything is in Hashem's hands, about how the Greek army was defeated entirely by way of supernatural miracles, and about how the ultimate message of Chanukah is that Torah and mitzvos is all that counts, and hishtadlus is entirely irrelevant, and basically pointless and unnecessary.
Note that the above story shows why yesterday’s humorous post is in fact very close to reality. Charedi/mystical approaches to Judaism and reality are sometimes diametrically opposed to the events and celebration of Chanukah.
Meanwhile, if you're in Israel for Chanukah, come visit The Biblical Museum of Natural History and learn more about the connection between leopards and Chanukah, along with appreciating the awesomeness of a full-size battle elephant! Book online at www.biblicalnaturalhistory.org/tickets.
Strike 2! I'm not quite getting how your (mis)understanding of some anonymous 'Chareidi' speaker groping around for Dvar Torah material is somehow supposed to be proof that the 'Charedi approach to Judaism' is that 'is that Torah and mitzvos is all that counts, and hishtadlus is entirely irrelevant, and basically pointless and unnecessary'. Well, I heard of a speech from a MODOX 'rabbi' that Yetzias Mitzrayim never happened. And that the world is populated with reptilians who control humans with invisible strings. And much more kefira and nonsense.
Hishtadlus IS necessary but is pointless without siyata dishmaya. From following your blog for over half a year, it appears that you feel that hishtdalus is ALL that is necessary, and siytata dishmaya is 'fluffy spirituality'. That's why you feel that soldiers who are mechalelei Shabbos and boalei Niddos do more for the state than Talmidei Chachomim learning Torah.
But I have some bad news, doc! The Torah teaches us otherwise. Sefer Bamidbar is full of warnings that if people don't keep the Torah (such as Shabbos and Nidda) they will be expelled from the land and our enemies will be able to triumph over us. The Gemara in Bava Basra teaches us that Talmidei Chachomim learning Torah act as a protection, and thus Talmidei Chachomim are exempt from draft. Does hishtadlus play a role? Certainly! But it's highly questionable what you hope to gain from your hishtadlus when it is counterproductive, such as sending young kids to a morally bankrupt atmosphere. Maybe if you make Avi Maoz the Minister of Defense, more Chareidim (who aren't holding by protecting the country through learning Torah) will join the army ;) ....
I still find it EXTREMELY ironic that the modern day Misyavnim think that they represent the Chashmonaim. The Chashmonaim seem more likely to have been a combination of Ben Gvir and Yerushalmis rolled into one!!!!!
In point of fact Greece is only indirectly involved with Chanukah. Our enemies more specifically were Hellenized Jews and Syrians. There was no Greek army per se, no Athenians, no Spartans, no Macedonians. Just a bunch of wannabee "Greeks." We're still dealing with wannabees of one kind or another today.