"What's Chanukah?" Our Holy Rabbis asked this question in Gemara Shabbas 21b. The question is: why did the Rabbi's institute the celebration of Chanuka for all generations? In other words, what did they feel was so important about Chanuka that every holy brother and sister in every generation until Moshiach comes (b'mheira b'yameinu) should celebrate it? More specifically, was it instituted for the miracle of the jar of oil, or for the miracles of battle?
"What's Purim?" That question wasn't asked, and the Slonimer Rebbe (shlita) explains that it wasn't asked because the answer is obvious. The central aspect of Purim, which has to do with you and me right now, is mechiyat Amalek, the wiping out of Amalek. Way back then, Queen Esther, a descendent of King Saul (who messed up on killing Agag the Amalek king [Shmuel I chap 15]}, had Haman hanged. Haman was a descendant of Agag. Esther fixed King Saul's mistake by following-through on mechiyat Amalek. Just as it was a war against Amalek, so too today.
What's Amalek? It used to be a nation; now it is any person who subscribes to the philosophy of that nation. It's numerical value is 'doubt.' It's the doubt -- is Hashem in the world? If Hakadosh Baruch Hu isn't around, then might makes right, and I am all that matters; who's to say differently? But it's such falsehood, because Hashem took us out of Egypt and gave us the Torah in front of 3 million eye witnesses . . . and I feel Hashem with me . . . so how can it be that I can transgress Hakadosh Baruch Hu's will? Amalek. For a second, there's a doubt. Maybe Hashem doesn't see, or care. So there's Purim, and wiping out this philosophy of Amalek is the main point. In fact, it's the entire reason it was instituted for all generations. So how do we fight Amalek? Maybe the first official battle between the Jews and Amalek can teach us a few tricks.
Amalek attacks us as we leave Egypt, and after sending Yehoshua and some choice men to do battle, Moshe Rabeinu, our Holy Faithful Shepherd, sits on a rock on a mountain with his hands in the air. If they are above his head, we win. If they droop, we lose. Rav Akiva Tatz explains that the hands are for doing, asiya, while the head is for understanding. Everybody knows how the Holy Jews are famous for the phrase we coined at Sinai, Naasei V'nishma, we will do and we will listen. We committ ourselves to Hashem and his mitzvot even before we know what they are. How could we not? Hashem is the Creator, and He loves us so, so much.
So Moshe Rabeinu puts his hands over his head; "We will do, and then we will understand." It is not about my ego and intellect. When his hands fall too low, Amalek wins. First I judge, then maybe I'll do. What's in it for me? But Holy Moshe, his hands are too heavy. He calls for his good friends Chur and Aharon to help him out holding up his hands. I'm sure it's a very deep Torah here, but on a simple level, it's so beautiful. I can't beat Amalek, no matter who I am or how strong. I can't. We can. Not only can we destroy Amalek, but it's almost too easy. All they did was hold up Moshe's hands. After Moshe asked for their help, it was a sure win. I give everyone a bracha (me too) that we should wipe out Amalek from our hearts and under the Heavens, quickly, soon, and together.