As the year 5786 began, readers were invited to enthusiastically approach the new Jewish year as a time of growth. It was suggested that they take a moment to think about what their primary goals would be, and how they envisioned themselves improving as people. It is now, as the festival of Hanukkah approaches, that it is acceptable to broach a specific subject that is integral in the path to growth: introspection. If one looks back at their past actions–noting their successes and failures–they are able to gain valuable insights about themselves and how they can improve.

At a glance, Hanukkah would seem to have no connection to introspection. However, it is worth analyzing the enduring legacy of the heroes of Hanukkah–the Maccabim–to see if these people, who virtuously upheld the honor of the Jewish people, also had flaws for modern-day Jews to learn from. After all, the heroes in the Torah are never perfect. As human beings, they make mistakes. Moshe Rabbeinu got angry at B’nei Yisrael on several occasions and was eventually punished. Miriam and Aharon were involved in speaking derogatorily about their brother. The list goes on and on.

The Maccabim, a family commonly referred to as the Hashmonaim by historians, certainly had a lot of what one would call chutzpah. They had pride, vigor, and a willingness to fight the Hellenistic superpower so as to reclaim Jewish dignity and sovereignty. Their zeal and bravery are to be admired. But perhaps, upon further reflection, they had a bit too much of it. Shortly after their reconquering of Eretz Yisrael from the Greeks, the Hashmonaim asserted themselves as rulers of the nation. Overbearing attitudes within the family quickly led to mistrust and internal squabbling, both of which greatly weakened the stability of the state as schisms and factions arose amongst leadership. Intensifying weakness of Jewish leadership set a perfect stage for the Romans to come in and conquer Eretz Yisrael, and the same family that had brought sovereignty to the Jewish people saw it crumble away. For all their virtues, prowess, and success… the Hasmonaim sure had their failures. They had major flaws that led to their eventual downfall and the end of Jewish sovereignty for thousands of years. Their story serves as a poignant reminder of the destruction inevitably wrought by greed and disunity. Had they undergone proper introspection–evaluating what major flaws they had–they could have been very different leaders. They might have worked on leveling their excessive pride, thereby allowing B’nei Yisrael to flourish as a nation.

All humans have great character traits that are to be duly embraced and celebrated. But they also have their shortcomings. Personality flaws, bad habits, and the like that ultimately prove harmful. With the Hashmonaim in mind, it is strongly recommended to everyone reading that they briefly recognize and examine any negative character traits they may have. Whether it is ego, short temper, or anything of the sort, all human beings possess flaws that they are capable of noticing, embracing, and working on. Doing so can be intensely meaningful and truly encourage growth.