Post date: Nov 29, 2013 3:53:14 AM
The name “Yavan” epitomized the very essence of the Greeks at that time.
Harav Zev Leff gives us three examples of how this is so:
1) Their primary focus was on external beauty. The letters that make up the name “Yavan” (Yud, Vav, Nun Sofis) are essentially straight lines, completely exposed. Their entire make up is showing outward, with nothing significant inside or hidden. This is in contrast to many other letters (like a Samech, a Shin, or a Beis) which have significant inner portions, which could suggest inner contemplation.
2) The Yevanim would judge people, or “size them up,” based only on external qualities. The letters of the name Yavan is representative of the measuring stick of the primary sizes:
Yud = small
Vav = medium
Nun Sofis = large
3) When the name Yavan is reversed, the letters (Nun, Vav, Yud) spell Noi (beauty), hinting at their primary focus.
We have an additional insight into this concept from R. Ephraim Wachsman:
4) The form of the letters of their name hints to their stealthy and scheming nature. The culture of Yavan represented extreme secularism and anti-Torah ideals, and they were looking to spread their message and way of life in a very calculated manner.
They would start to suck a person in, but only to a small degree, similar to the diminutive size of the Yud. As time would progress, they would pull the person in more, represented by the mid-sized Vav. Finally, after much effort, they would manage to pull the person all the way down to the point from where it is most difficult to recover, similar to the low-reaching Nun Sofis.
As was said in the name of R. Yisrael Salanter, the first time a person sins, it’s hard to do so. And the next time he sins, doing so becomes relatively easier, until finally it feels to him like he is doing a Mitzvah!
[Inside Chanukah, p. 458, 459]
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Our victory is apparent in the form of the holiday
Because of the length of Chanukah and its placement in the calendar, there is always a Shabbos and a Rosh Chodesh during Chanukah. Additionally, it’s possible for a boy born on Chanukah (on the first day) to get his Bris Milah on Chanukah (on the eighth day).
The Bnei Yissaschar tells us that the common denominator between these Mitzvos is that they were all outlawed by the Yevanim. Our ability (or possibility) to perform each of these Mitzvos on Chanukah is real proof that not only were they unsuccessful, but they are gone and we’re still alive and well!
[Inside Chanukah, p. 57]
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The letters of “Shemen” could be interpreted as being Roshei Teivos for the following phrase:
Shelima’ancha Masru Nafsham
That for the sake of Your (Hashem’s) Name, (the Chashmonaim) sacrificed themselves.
[Inside Chanukah, p. 463]