Chanukah seems to be more popular than ever. Thanks to Adam Sandler, Orrin Hatch, and the American culture of consumerism and marketing, the festival of lights has secured a more prominent place in popular culture than other Jewish holidays. And I’m sure this popularity is about more than just its proximity to another better known holiday or its eight days of presents.

Chanukah’s popularity also has a lot to do with the universal appeal of its storyline. This holiday recalls a classic underdog story about a scrappy, smaller protagonist that defeats the larger, dominant, cruel antagonist. Who wouldn’t be impressed by the bravery of the weak and few as they make a stand against the mighty and numerous? It’s a story with the same appeal of the American Revolutionary War or the movie “Rudy.”

The greatness of Moshe is apparent not only in his moments of glory leading the Jewish people out of Egypt toward Mount Sinai, but more so in his graceful acceptance of God’s decree that he would not bring the Jewish people into the land of Israel. Since he failed to sanctify God properly and reflect faith in Him during the episode of “the hitting of the rock,” Moshe will not be able to see the final stage of the redemption of the Jewish people with their settlement in the land. And yet, without waiting for a Divine summons, Moshe turns to God and asks Him to appoint the next leader, someone “who shall go out before them and come in before them, and who shall take them out and bring them in, so that God’s community may not be like sheep that have no shepherd.”