"My children," Chanah said, "tell your ancestor Abraham: You bound one son upon an altar, but I bound seven..."
45 Comments Posted
Only a brood of wily evil unrepenting snakes could be so cruelly savage: stinging & torturing their fatally murderous poison upon holy angels in the flesh for vanity sakes. I salute Hannah and her 7 children whom surrendered their lives with utmost goodly faith, which I have never seen before and I am dwarfed: my words turn to tears... and i become limp.
May this adverse lesson increase our faith daily in Ha-Shem and Torah with a goodly pure contrite heart. Shabat Shalom.
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Channah and her seven sons such belief in G-D we should all have the same as her and the Redemtion shall come right now!! AMEN
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He was the first Jewish "Marine".
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This story was told to me when I was a very little girl by my mother, especially on Tisha Be Av night. It touches the core of the Jewish soul--through thick and thin we love Hashem, His Mitzvot and Torah. May we merit to be redeemed soon. Amen.
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With all my Love for a very Happy Channukah
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This story is abundantly horrific. I share your stories with my grandchildren, but this one is too violent for a child's mind. I hate to think of children's nightmares after reading this.
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Channah was a brave and loving mother. Her devotion to G-d knowing that our children are only loaned to us helped her be at peace with all of her son's sadistic tortures. As the Messiah may come sooner than we think, I pray that i have Channa's faith to hear G-d;s voice in time of need.
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Aghast ! Incumbently I had to re-read & re-narrate about this incomprehensible , disturbing & factual story. Such bravery & vaunted faith is unequalled and unheard of in our contemporary times....
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Was it justifiable? we all know that it happened also in group... but doesnt that show a lack of faith?
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I love being a Jew. And I pass onto my son the same love I have for our faith. But here’s my dilemma: Here we are, all praising the woman for sacrificing her children. None of us stops to ask the basic question – why did things have to get to that point anyway? This is THE All Mighty G-d. Why bring such fait to innocent children? Couldn’t there have been a different way to make His point?
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I don't think G_d was "trying to make a point." It may be hard for some to fathom, but to the Jewish soul, there is no greater privilege, nothing more lofty and noble, than to sacrifice one's life to sanctify G_d's name.
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Do the Sages teach that it is acceptable to G-d to commit suicide? I have always been taught that to take your life into your own hands is to deny G-d. Channah said to her youngest son that," G-d controls your life's breath and can take your soul whenever He desires".Didn't she contradict what she said by throwing herself from a roof? I don't consider her a martyr or one who should be admired.I thought a martyr was someone who was murdered for their beliefs....not somone who commits suiside for them. No doubt it was devestating to see her sons murdered before her, I have lost a child myself, but wouldn't G-d's strength be better shown by making a stand instead of showing defeat? It seems to me that she allowed her son's lives to be taken and than took her own. I am very perplexed by this story . Is there anyone who can offer any insight?
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I found a fascinating article on this topic at http://www.lind.org.il/features/kidhashem_v19.htm. It should answer your question.
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I thought it would end happily but not so. Its just sad that this even ever happened.But it shows how much courage her sons had in the face of Death . Not forsake the Torah.
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yes channah ideally should have started a support group for parents who have outlived their children but we have to face reality. her despair led to her wanting to die and be with her sons again. death is not the worst outcome as noah learned. we are perfect again. but yes channah had choices and hopefully in her next life she will be wiser from her experience and choose life. and compassion for tohers. what if they had all said to antiochus, "we love you." instead of damning him? maybe he might have stopped what he was doing. it happened in concentration camps that way at times.
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Is there a source for this story?
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This simple question can be asked about very many things in our tradition. Answers anyone? "Because it says so in the bible." is not really an answer, is it?
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It is found in the Talmud, Gittin 57b, as well as numerous places in the Midrash and other historical accounts.
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when you come to Israel, if you come to safed or tzfat, you can go to the cemetery and find the graves of Chana and her sons. it is one thing to read the story, it is quite another to enter the hidden grave site and see just how small the stones covering the graves of her sons get. A real grave reminds us that this is not just a chanukah tale, but real people with real convictions and commitments.
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our souls are all linked, and when one suffers we all suffer. even the persecutors suffer, and when eventually good does triumph over the evil and darkness that attempts to engulf our world, the evil doers and their kind suffer even more...the story of channah and her sons, tells us of the strength of conviction of the jewish people, and the belief that a life without principle and freedom for many is no life at all, and consequently not even worth living. I hope we all honor their sacrifice.
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I am thrilled to read this story; I am convinced that the GOD of Israel is real; He chooses when and how to deliver His children; as well as how to bring glory to His great name. Thank God for people of faith; real people; people who trust God even in the face of death. I have been to Israel, but I never knew about the story until now; I hope to go back next year if the Lord wills. Then I will be interested in seeing their graves. Their bodies may suffer persecution, but they are at peace with the GOD of their Fathers, Abraham, Issac & Jocob. May their souls rest in Peace.
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Devotion to Our God is miraculous by itself. Hope our souls will meet souls of Chana and Abracham and Sarah.
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The link to answer the question about suicide is in Hebrew. Is there an answer why Chana commited suicide which is against Jewish beleif.
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Compare with Chanah and Her Seven Sons' bravery and commitment to G_d, I look at myself as nothing
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May G-d have mercy and grace on Chanah's soul. Think of the anguish and mental torture she was enduring after witnessing the torture & destruction of her beloved sons, 7 times! Perhaps she had lost her mind - I would have! (My life wouldn't mean much to me if my 3 children died, even accidentally.) I weep for their bravery, and hope I have an ounce of their courage when I'm called upon to need it. Praise G-d!
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I love my religion, but only a person who is insane would sacrifice her children for any cause; would allow them to suffer in such horrific manners. I would suffer anything including pretending to abandon my religion while keeping it alive in my heart and in the secrecy of our homes as the Maranos did before I would allow harm to come to my children. Gd would never want such a a thing anymore than he allowed Abraham to kill his son. We honor these stories of insanity from the ancient writings when we would never tolerate a mother doing such a thing today for any reason whatsoever.
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Brothers and Sisters, as with Chanah and her children, death will come to each of us according to G-d's will. Deaths such as this may once again be in our futures with the rise of islam. We must not break faith with G-d, even if it means the lives of all whom we love. I can think of only one thing more wretched than watching my beloved wife and children die, that is breaking faith with the G-d of my Fathers. It is G-d in whom I will place my faith never to renounce. For the life G-d has given me, I gladly offer it back. G-d, my familiy is in your hands, do with us as You will.
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Very interesting. It is hard believe someone would actually do this to oppress other people.
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I think the story was sad and morbid but still a good story. I believe the boys should have converted because they lost their lives. It's dumb to die for your religion. G-d wants us to do whatever we can to save ourselves. I would convert and be happy i didn't die. I could secretly still appreciate G-d just not in pubic.
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I don't think that it was the right thing to sacrifice her sons and I don't think that she should be proud of letting her sons die. Life is more important and after that King's rule, they would have been able to go back to being openly Jewish. Life preservation is very important. Torah also says that life is the most important thing.
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Chanah may have had faith, but there are certain extents where even g-d may not mind if you save yourself. SHe watched as her 7 sons all died with an overwhelming faith that only encouraged more bloodlust. And as she reassured her final son- almost praised him for giving his life- that is not even a sane decision. Seven boys, all gone because of a lot of faith may not sound possible, but this is definitely the case.
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When someone sees all of their children die before them, then it can be understandable to see to want to make that sacrifice. Chanah probably wanted to be with her children. I understand that Chanah was proud of her children, for they stood up for what they believe in.
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I understand that though still faithful, Chanah was distraught, But is suicide not a sin? Better that the king had her suffer as her children did, no.
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Channah may indeed be extreme, but who can judge her? Extreme times call for extreme measures. Masada, the Crusades, and so on are all examples of Jews killing themselves rather than falling into the hands of heathens, Christian, Muslim or otherwise.
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Chana only killed herself so Antiochos won't defile her. similar to what many girls did in the Holocaust and through out the generations.
How holy are the daughters of Israel!
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Chana exercised her rights as a righteous person, thereby overcoming wrong; which is what she had evidently instilled in her sons. Without being there, I don't believe we can judge her circumstances, because as their Mother, she actually died 8 times and in all likelihood they would have killed her, just like they killed her 7 sons. The difference is she was wise enough to exercise discretion, thereby intentionally beating evil before evil beat her. To discredit her vexed & angst decision is wrongful!!
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While I understand this faith and the desire to speak out when others will not...to stand on principle alone when others will not, i cannot feel anything but compassion for her sons, and Chana.
I do not believe in martyrdom of this sort, where obvious innocents are murdered for faith. That is fundamentally wrong, imho.
We are told if you are in the desert and there is a pig, you must eat it to survive. Life is the great gift. Chana let her grief overcome her judgment when her first son was murdered. Grief can do this, make one loose their right mind and throw logic off for passion.
Advising her sons to publicly but not privately denounce would have been the logical choice. She denied her sons a logical response by inflaming their passion. There is a time and a place for passion. Better to live and fulfill the mitzvot in secret, and tikun olam in daily life, marry and create life then to die as they did.
As for Chana, I am sure our creator knew her condition, so.
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Someone previously stated:
"Better to live and fulfill the mitzvot in secret, and tikun olam in daily life, marry and create life then to die as they did."
Whilst you may certainly feel so - that is contrary to the Torahs commands which forbid denouncing G-d even under penalty of death. The purpose of all the worthwhile worldly pursuits you mentioned (Mitzvois, marriage etc.) are merely the way to serve our Creator whilst in this world. However, to use those pursuits as a pretext for acting contrary to what G-d has actually commanded us to do in a specific situation, is simply the wrong course of action. Chana was (of course) entirely right to do her best to ensure her children followed G-d's command.
Passion in ones cause is a vital characteristic. Obviously it must be tempered with knowing the correct course of action - i.e. Halocha (Jewish law). In this case, Chana rightly invoked her children's passion to ensure they would choose the right thing.
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Chana and her 7 sons were indocile to this foreign religion & chose Torah which leads to Paradise. Sensibly, faithfully & pragmatically! Instead of co-existing with sinners in a living hell under rampageous rule, succumbing to their enemies illogical irreligous mindset, whose derangement is hellbent on instilling fear & intolerable torment.
PS: In defense of mother & sons, possibly Chana & sons unshakable faith was > than their limited Torah knowledge?
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I must respectfully disagree with you Mc. Where is it written what you say? Where is it written you must be a martyr and sacrifice your children?
An adult must certainly make this choice, as in the Inquisition. I would have gladly been burned at the stake rather than be a conversos! I am glad many did not make that choice though, as many are returning to us now because they did not!
Fact is, she would have left them all orphans, so, she was in a catch 22. They certainly would have been murdered or abused in sick ways as was the custom under their rule or forced into slavery.
However, G-d did not ask her to sacrifice her children as he did Abraham with Isaac, and even then he stayed Abraham's hand. In fact human sacrifice is forbidden, especially children in the Noahide laws. She made a tragic and heartwrenching choice in an impossible situation.
Mark, I do not believe in hell.
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The infinity of G+d's omniscience is seen in man having freedom to choose according to his knowledge, gifts, know how, etc. So we can agree to disagree as we are all different and at different levels with different vistas & IQ's and of different religions, cultures, customs, schools & families too. If Chana is/was to be physically punished, then I would embrace her completely, so that i receive her punishment-- instead of her. And I find her beyond any reasonable doubt not guilty, only her perpetrates. Moreover, the texts quoted by other commentaries from Torah are not in context & maligned with Chana's overwrought unique disposition.
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The Almighty bequeathed us the right to choose and Chana applauded her children's choice to die righteosly. A mother's job is to raise her children in the way they should go. Begging them to break faith in a manner contrary to thier upbringing would have dishonored the death of their father and the Law.
Unfortunately, knowing what she did was right in the eyes of the Lord would not have alleviated her immediate pain, as such peace only comes through grieving.
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One woman and her sons are martyrs. Many women together are a force to be reckoned with. Many women together with their men and their children are Maccabees and history shows us that together, we can win against injustice. That is the story of Chanukah. Let's tell the whole story to our children and join all of our voices in 5000 years of tradition and freedom.
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As I read the story I was only reminded or two other times where people were tortured and killed. Not just for beliefs but for who they were. My family had both Jewish and Black slaves. In both we fought for what we believed and was killed, butchered and gassed as human beings that were less than others. Do we not understand that the lesson to be learned is that we are to die with first for the love of G-d then for honor. I see that the time is drawing near that we must put G-d first in everything we do in order to fight the good fight. Remember Die for representing G-d first and only, because our time to fight for Him is near. Will you die like Chana's sons or will you be without loyalty to the one that watches over us? I will do what my ancestors did, Jewish and Slave, die fighting for freedom to love G-d.
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I would be willing to wager that most of you who condoned Chana's actions did not have children at the time of your commenting on this article.
Does anyone remember the photograph of the cringing woman holding her toddler in her ams just before the Nazi rifleman murdered them? Now, THAT is the reaction of a valiant Jewish woman. With her back to the barrel, she sought to shield her child from harm to the very end. This is what any sane parent would do - Jewish, or not.
What most of you (except perhaps "hm") don't understand is that this story is meant to highlight the importance of not selling out. To stay true to your beliefs against overwhelming odds. Chana could not have been a real person, because there is nothing more important than the preservation of life.
Jews have survived because they have drawn upon resources from millenia of outrageous abuses.
Love Hashem with every fiber of your being, but also be prudent concerning the lives of others.
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