Chanukah Pt.1

The Meaning Behind Maoz Tzur

by Rav Yosef Zvi Rimon

Founder and Board Chairman, JobKatif

For hundreds of years, “Maoz Tzur” or translated to “Rock of Ages” has been sung during the ceremony of lighting Chanuka candles.  This week we will attempt to interpret one part of the difficult poem.

The first stanza of Maoz Tzur describes three layers of praise for G-d.

מעוז צור ישועתי – לך נאה לשבח: “G-d is my fortress, as strong as a rock, and I lean upon him to rescue me in my time of need; for this he is praiseworthy.”  This is based upon Jeremiah 16:19: “Lord, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in time of distress”, as well as various references to G-d as a rock, such as Isaiah 26:4: “Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal”, as well as in the daily prayers: מודים אנחנו לך…צור ישועתנו ”we thank you…rock of our salvation.”

תיכון בית תפילתי – ושם תודה נזבח: When the temple is rebuilt, we can thank G-d through offering a קרבן תודה – a Thanksgiving Sacrifice, for all the miracles he awarded us throughout history.

לעת תכין מטבח מצר המנבח – אז אגמור בשיר מזמור חנוכת המזבח: When G-d has destroyed (מטבח) our enemies (who are compared to barking dogs – המנבח) – then we can sing praise to G-d for the inauguration of the Alter, Mizbach.  The word תכין – you shall prepare – relates both to the preparation of the Alter, which will be prepared by G-d, as well as the destruction of the enemies, in which G-d himself will participate.

In order to have the ability to sing a greater praise for God, we ask him to bring about the next stages of redemption.  We wish to glorify G-d through the best means we have: a Thanksgiving sacrifice, singing Hallel; however, the ability to do so requires completing the redemption by ridding us of enemies (which will lead to Hallel), and rebuilding the temple (which will lead to the bringing of a Thanksgiving sacrifice).

Shabbat Shalom and Happy Chanukah!