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Despite all the Hasmoneans' shortcomings, their victories had immense value. Birthrates rose, Jews immigrated from the Diaspora, and Jewish settlements sprung up throughout the country. The Jewish people, who had suffered destruction and exile, largely rehabilitated themselves. Thanks to the protection afforded by partial political independence, the Land of Israel once again became the Jewish people's national and spiritual center. Houses of Torah study grew and flourished.
In addition, the spiritual foundations of the Oral Torah were laid then, which would enable the Jews to safeguard their faith and Torah through two thousand years of harsh exile. True, the Second Temple would be destroyed, along with all the Hasmoneans’ political achievements. Nevertheless, the study of the Oral Torah has lasted, and will last forever. It was thanks to the self-sacrifice of Mattathias and his sons the Torah was crystalized, and the Jewish people's uniqueness displayed. But the Hasmonean dynasty, with all its problems and complexities, was short-lived, and we do not commemorate it in a particularly celebratory manner.
The miracle of the oil showed that the military victory over the Greeks was not just of short-term political value, but rather a spiritual victory with everlasting impact. For this reason, the Sages mandated our continued celebration of Ĥanuka even after the destruction of the Temple. We do this by lighting candles and praising God for saving us and granting us victory and salvation.
The biggest miracle of all became clear only over the course of time. That is, not only did we succeed in surviving the storm of Hellenism that raged across the civilized world, but that through a long and complicated process, Judaism crushed most of its pagan foundations. The abstract belief in one God, the commitment to moral values, and the aspiration to fix the world – all fundamental principles of the Torah – increasingly spread among the nations of the world. Eventually, directly and indirectly (such as via Christianity and Islam), they became the foundations of all the positive aspects of human culture. Furthermore, even though our exile has lasted for a long time, the light of the Jewish people and its Torah has lasted even longer. It will continue to illuminate the world until we have the privilege of taking pure new oil from the olives of the Land of Israel and using it to light the Menora of our Holy Temple. The world will become filled with the knowledge of God. May this happen speedily in our days. Amen.
