Spreading טומאה

Rabbi Mordechai Jaffe, also known as “the Levush,” was a sixteenth century scholar and Kabbalist. He explained the defiling of all of the oils in the Beit Hamikdash in a unique manner.

The Levush referred to a general Halacha related to the laws of עבודה זרה. The prohibition of idol worship is so great that it even contains טומאת אהל, the same defilement of being under the same roof as a corpse.

The Greeks first brought their idols into the Heichal, the main Temple building, and it was the idols that caused all of the containers of oil to be contaminated, except for one.

This explanation of the Levush is significant in pointing out how important it is to distance ourselves, not only from impurities, but from all negative influences.

We are affected negatively by such influences, that even being under the same roof with such negativity, can be most harmful.

This is the message of Chanukah and the victory that is celebrated. It was not only the few over the many, but it was a victory of holiness over impurity.

We must be diligent in making sure that we surround ourselves exclusively, with positive influences that bring us closer and closer to Hashem.