Grave
Chana and Her 7 Sons
The Grave of Chana and Her 7 Sons
Burial place - Tzfat, the old cemetery;
In Jewish history there are 2 Chanas – one Chana is the mother of the prophet Shmuel, who overcame Ha-Shem with her prayer "Vatitpallel Chana," and from being barren became the mother of 7 children (/en/молитва-ханы-2/),
and the second Chana – the mother of 7 sons, who lost all of them in a single day and made a Kiddush Hashem.
The Talmud in Tractate Gittin (57) describes the following story.
This took place at a time when the Greeks had conquered Israel and were trying to impose their culture on the Jews.
Seeing the total resistance, King Antiochus decided to stage a demonstrative flogging scene – to compel the Jews to worship Greek pagan gods.
They chose Chana and her 7 sons for this role – Antiochus's soldiers seized them on the street and brought them to the palace.
1. First, Antiochus offered the eldest son to bow to the idol, and he replied:
- "It is written in the Torah: 'I am the L-rd your G-d'" – and he was immediately executed.
2. Antiochus offered the second son to bow to the idol, and he replied:
- "It is written in the Torah: 'You shall have no other gods'" – and he too was executed.
3. Antiochus offered the third son to bow to the idol, and he replied:
- "It is written in the Torah: 'Do not bow down to other gods'" – and he met the same fate.
4. Antiochus offered the fourth son to bow to the idol, and he replied:
- "It is written in the Torah: 'One who sacrifices to other gods shall be utterly destroyed'" – and he was executed.
5. Antiochus offered the fifth son to bow to the idol, and he replied:
- "It is written in the Torah: 'Hear, O Israel, the L-rd is our G-d, the L-rd is One'" – and he was executed.
6. Antiochus offered the sixth son to bow to the idol, and he replied:
"It is written in the Torah: 'Know this day and take it to heart, that the L-rd is G-d in heaven above and on the earth below, there is no other'" – and he was executed.
Thus, before their mother's eyes, six of her children were executed. Only one remained, the youngest.
The Courage of the Youngest Son
And so the youngest son was brought before Antiochus.
The Midrash says he was only 2 years and 6 months old. "Bow to our god, my son," Antiochus said graciously. "No, never!" the child cried out.
Then Antiochus decided to change tactics.
"I had to execute your brothers," he told the little boy, "and I really don't want to execute you too. Just pick up the ring that fell off my finger."
And with these words, Antiochus took the ring off his finger and threw it at the foot of the idol.
"Never!" the child repeated stubbornly.
Then Antiochus shouted in fury: "You will die in agony, just like your brothers!"
"It is an honor for me to join my brothers, who died for the glory of Ha-Shem's name!" the boy replied.
Antiochus ordered the child to be taken away and executed, but then Chana threw herself at his feet: "I beg you, ruler, let me kiss my son before he dies!"
Antiochus willingly agreed: perhaps this woman, who had watched six of her sons perish before her eyes, would convince the youngest to submit in order to save his life. How wrong he was!
Chana embraced her son, kissed him, and said: "My little son! You and your brothers gave your lives for the glory of Ha-Shem's name. I am proud of you. Go to your brothers and tell them that I love them and am proud of them."
She stood up and turned to Antiochus: "I beg you, my lord, kill me before you kill him!"
But Antiochus only smirked: "Your Torah says one may not slaughter a goat and its kid on the same day!"
"You villain!" Chana's eyes flashed. "It seems you have fulfilled all the commandments of the Torah, and only this one remains!"
When the last of her sons fell dead, Chana cried out: "My sons! Go to our forefather Avraham and tell him: let him not boast! He built one altar, but I built seven. He only passed a test, but I actually sacrificed my children!"
And, unable to bear the grief, Chana died. As her soul left her body, a Heavenly Voice declared: "Happy is this mother!" – happy, for she merited to fulfill her purpose in life to the very end, in the most exalted manner.
What Chana and her sons did is a Kiddush Hashem. (Talmud, Tractate Gittin 57)
May the merit of this tzadik protect our people!
Gallery
