Not All Stories Are True

    A member of my shul was sitting shiva in Miami recently. When he returned, he shared that when he mentioned who his rav is, while many said “I read him in Ami” some others responded, “Oh, he is the one who writes about history”.

         Initially, I was slightly insulted by this. For ten months out of the year, this space is dedicated to halacha and rabbanus; why then would some only mention the summer series?

    However, the truth is, there is a lot in-common between halacha and, lh’aln, history, which is why I think I enjoy researching it over the summer.

     An example relating to Chanukah: several years ago, in the Chanukah issue, I wrote about the misconception many have in assuming that we seek to use olive oil for the menorah because it was part of the ness. However, we explained -based on Rav Moshe and many others – when one traces the true source for using olive oil, while the above reason is a nice idea, it is not at its center. It may surprise some to learn that the Shulchan Aruch (siman 673) never mentions using olive oil for the menorah at all, let alone as a remembrance of the ness! While the Rama (ad loc.) cites the view of lighting with olive oil, he does not give the popular inspiration behind the practice. In fact, the two early Rishonim who also mention using olive oil – the Mordechai and the Rokeach (cf. Kolbo) – never say that the reason is to commemorate the miracle. The Chofetz Chaim quotes the shu”t Mahari Bruna, recommending that we light with some type of oil since oil better represents the ness. Neither the Chofetz Chaim nor the Mahari Bruna mention olive oil specifically at all! See Dibros Moshe, Shabbos, perek 2, ha’orah 23 at length.

    Lahavdil, history too has similar misconceptions, that once repeated take on a life of their own. “Hamilton may have been Jewish” (not true) is a popular one, as is “RJJ was America’s first rav” (also, not true).

   Surprisingly, many books on American history often repeat from other books without tracing the legitimacy of an event. Unless a historian is a navi, or has a built a time-machine, everything they write must have some original source. I have therefore found it a wonderful exercise in being mevakesh haemes to write about history.     

     In addition, when one learns to keep tracing sources back to the original it can allow for new findings, as well as dispel old ones.

    A great example of this is the story of George Washington and Chanukah. In 2007 the Sydney Taylor Book Prize went to a children’s book titled ‘Hanukkah at Valley Forge’, by Stephan Krensky.

     The back flap of this book states: “This story…is based on facts…it is known that in December of 1778, Washington had lunch at the home of Michael Hart, a Jewish merchant in Easton, Pennsylvania. It was in the middle of Hanukkah, and when Hart began to explain the holiday to the general, Washingon replied that he knew already…”

   How did Washington know of Chanukah? The Jerusalem Post writes (December 7, 2016) about the winter one-year earlier:

    “The winter of 1777 was harsh…The soldiers stationed at Valley Forge had no inkling why they were there. In their midst was one Jewish soldier and it was the first night of Chanukah…he took out his menorah and lit one candle, recited the blessings…”

   It was also the eve of the Christian holiday.

    “The general [Washington], in person, stood by his side. He looked at him and said gently, ‘Why are you weeping? Are you cold my friend?’ The soldiear jumped to his feet and saluted. Then he said quietly, ‘I am weeping before my Father in Heaven…He controls the fate of millions… I came to this country because I was fleeing the persecution of tyrants who have forever oppressed my family, my townspeople and my nation. The despots will fall, sir, but you will be victorious!” 

“Thank you, soldier!” The General replied heartily, and sat himself on the ground before the menorah. And what have we here?” he asked, full of curiosity. This is a Candelabra. Jews all over the world are lighting the first candle of our festival, Chanukah, tonight. This serves to commemorate a great miracle that occurred to our ancestors. They were only a handful compared to the massive armies, but they held out, thanks to their faith in G-d, and were granted a miracle. 

   The bright flame ignited a flame of hope in the weary General’s eyes and he cried out joyfully, “You are a Jew? Then you are descended from a people of Prophets! And you say that we will win the war?” “Yes, sir!” he replied confidently. The General rose, his face glowing with renewed hope. They shook hands heartily. Washington asked the soldier for his name and address and disappeared into the night.”

    Now a year later at the Hart’s home:

“The first Hanukah light was burning brightly on his [Hart’s] windowsill. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. His wife rose to open it wide. To her astonishment, there stood President Washington. 

‘There is that fabulous light, the Chanukah light,’ he cried out happily, spotting the candle by the window. ‘That flame, and your remarkable words, kindled a light in my heart on that dark and bitter night,’ he reminisced. ‘We were in a tight situation then, and your words encouraged me so! They spurred me on with new hope.  

 ‘You will soon be awarded a Medal of Honor from the United States of America for your bravery in Valley Forge, but tonight you will receive a personal memento from me.’ With these words he placed on the table a gold medal upon which was engraved a Chanukah menorah with one light burning. Upon this medal was inscribed: ‘As a sign of thanks for the light of your candle. George Washington.’”

    Is this story true?

      Well, the first night of Chanukah in 1777 did fall out on the eve of their holiday. And…that is all I was able to confirm!

   Michael Hart was indeed  a frum Jew, indeed a local shochet. His daughter -from whom the fact that Washington once visited their home derives (although she makes no mention of Chanukah) -does describe her father: “Let it be remembered that Michael Hart was a Jew, practically, pious, a Jew reverencing and strictly observant of the Sabbath and Festivals; dietary laws were also adhered to, although he was compelled to be his own Shochet.”

   She also states, “Mark well that he, Washington, the then honored as first in peace, first in war, and first in the hearts of his countrymen, even during a short sojourn became for the hour the guest of the worthy Jew”.

   But, again, did this story take place -either in 1777 on the field of battle, or in a frum home the next year?

    First, the daughter from whose diary the above quote comes, was born in 1803 -four years after the death of Washington!

   In the 1888 book ‘Jews of Philadelphia’ it is recorded that the chair Washington sat in at the Hart home was preserved. This is also recorded in 1895’s ‘American Jew as a Patriot, Soldier, and Citizen’. However, none of these early writings make any mention of Chanukah (see also, ‘Hanukkah in America: A History’, A. Ashton, NYU Press).

    The story has expanded even more with time -an impossibility with true history. In I. Harold Sharfman’s ‘Jews of the Frontier’ the author writes, “Michael Hart’s wife, Leah, prepared a kosher meal…complete with latkes…it being the sixth day of the festival…” Wow! This story is getting better and better!

    While books such as ‘Consider the Years: The Story of the Jewish Community of Easton’, surmises that latkes were served, by the time  Sharfman tells the story it begins to snowball: “Michael wished the general well, expressing his hope the he, like the Macabees of old, would hammer and level the enemy as symbolized in the flattened pancakes enjoyed on this holiday…The commander-in-chief  presented the three hart boys with silver coins…”

   Now there is Chanukah gelt in the story?!

      Like latkes and Chanukah itself -as potatoes were only recently brought to West (cf. Ri Migash and the article we once wrote about the halachik history of fried foods on Chanukah) -the true connection between Washington and Chanukah is minimal at best.

    We do not need to embellish the past; our history is rich enough. And, the true history Chanukah is a powerful enough reason to enhance our dveykus to Hashem during these days.

For more on Chanukah see here: Chanukah