In these last weeks before Chanukah, the Jewish people have suffered many losses. In the last two weeks we've lost 29 precious Jewish souls to Arab terror attacks, the most recent in a long litany of deadly homicide bombings in Israel. At times these attacks seem relentless. We've barely mourned the 12 Jews who were murdered in cold blood at the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hevron when they were ambushed by Arab terrorists as they left the Friday night Shabbat services there, and then, so suddenly, again we hear that 11 more Jews, mostly school children were blown to smithereens on a Jerusalem bus.

Moreover, on November 14, 9 Kislev the Jewish people lost Irv Rubin, ZT"L, chairman of the Jewish Defense League, based in Los Angeles. A passionate and zealous Jewish leader, the likes of which we may never see again. The circumstances surrounding his untimely death are now the subject of an investigation.

And all this before Chanukah? The holiday in which we witnessed miracles. The festival of lights, a lesson in Jewish faith and trust in the Almighty G-d of Israel, of Jewish strength and military might.

And with profound sadness we must take note of the fact that in the Israel of today, we see that the true meaning of Chanukah has completely evaporated before our very eyes. The leaders of our government immerse themselves not in imparting faith, hope and genuine Jewish strength to our people, but rather they engage in petty partisan politics. They use the political climate in Israel all for the sake of personal power, as they try and outdo each other in the endless game of political rhetoric.

Sharon? Netanyahu? Mitzna? Peres? Does it really matter? For they are empty, vapid, bankrupt leaders who offer us nothing except a psychological insight in to the mental disorder of megalomania. Leaders who care very little, if at all, with truly leading the Jewish people - the Jewish nation - toward a genuine Jewish victory over her enemies. The kind of victory that we witnessed at the time of Chanukah. A victory composed of Jewish courage, faith, trust and strength.

A victory of Kiddush Hashem, of a people unwilling to let the Hellenists destroy the Jewish soul and body; a victory led by leaders, who didn't keep babbling in political terms in order to get a vote, but by leaders like Mattityahu who cried out, "Whoever is with G-d, follow me !" A nation who had only trust in G-d and no fear of their enemies and had the willingness to do that which was necessary to ensure the preservation of the Jewish nation. A nation of warriors whose sole purpose was to sanctify G-d name, thereby ensuring the safety of the Jewish nation. A nation who witnessed miracles and who saw with their eyes, the glory and majesty, the might and compassion of the Almighty G-d of Israel.

And as each day passes our enemies grow bolder, their campaign of terror is fortified with endless streams of money as their propaganda machines work overtime in garnering world opinion on to their side. More importantly, their boldness and strength grows out of their own religious beliefs that every homicide bomber is a spiritual martyr and their unwavering belief that as each day passes their goals become more attainable. Time is on the side of our enemies and they know it.

And what is the response from our leaders? Fear, trepidation, horror, cowardice!!! Amram Mitzna says the answer is to dismantle Jewish settlements, for obviously in his shortsighted opinion, if the settlements wouldn't exist there would be peace! How blind and ignorant can one be? As though our enemy has never murdered us in Israel proper and only beyond the green line? What a preposterous and suicidal idea !!

And by his public proclamation of this insanity, he adds more strength and resolve to our enemy, for they say, "Terrorism works!" All we have to do is keep sacrificing our people for the cause and the Israelis back down, they offer us land for peace, they dismantle the very settlements we would like to dismantle ourselves. They do our job for us! These human bombs work! Let us recruit hundreds, if not thousands more! We are winning!

And the other candidates duel it out in the political arena of right wing rhetoric, fearing to take any real and courageous action. The kind of action that our leaders took during the time of Chanukah, 200 years before the destruction of the Second Temple.

Woe to a people that has wandered far from it's glorious past, and woe to a people who believes the holiday of Chanukah is all about latkes, jelly donuts, presents and parties.

Let us gird our loins this Chanukah, let us beseech the Almighty to let us see victory, let us beg the Almighty to give us leaders of courage, faith and hope, who will expel the malignant and murderous Arab population from our midst. Leaders who won't and can't fear world opinion, because they fear only Hashem Yisborach.

And what of redemption and salvation? Hashem has delivered it to us. It is in our hands to bring Moshiach, who is clamoring to come. All we need to do is let him in and we do that through the genuine sanctification of G-d's name. Courage to remove the Arab enemy and no fear of the world!