Hanukkah begins at sundown tonight. Although it’s a little early, we’d like to say Happy Hanukkah!
In the absence of personal experience with this Jewish holiday, we did some research and the experience was enlightening (no pun intended). Many of us are familiar with the miracle of the oil that lasted eight nights, but there is more to the story than we knew. We’d like to share some of what we learned with others who may not know, so that we all may have a better understanding of our neighbors’ traditions.
In the 2nd century, Greek-Syrians ruled Judea and had done all they could to suppress Jewish traditions — including placing Greek idols in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, according to Chabad.org. A small group of Jewish rebels known as the Maccabees fought to reclaim the Temple and won against a much larger army. Hanukkah (or Chanukah) means “dedication” or “induction”; the eight-day celebration honors the rededication of the Holy Temple after the Maccabees reclaimed it from the pagan rulers.
As part of the reclamation, the seven-branched candelabra — which was meant to be lit every day in the Temple — was relit using the only remaining cruse (small pot or jar) of oil that still had the seal of the High Priest. The other containers of oil had been contaminated or defiled by the Greek-Syrians. There should have been just enough oil to light the candelabra for one day, but the oil lasted eight days and nights — long enough for more oil to be blessed. From Chabad.org: “Seven represents all that is found within this world. … Then there is the number eight, which represents that which is above, that which does not fit into the neat slots that hold the bits and pieces of our lives. … Eight is the number of miracles.”
The menorah we are now familiar with holds nine candles total: One candle to represent each of the eight nights the oil lasted and one candle called the shamash, or attendant, used to light the others. A new candle is added each night — beginning with just one tonight — until all the candles are lit by the end of Hanukkah, which is also called the Festival of Lights.
We learned more in our research than will fit here — and we’re sure there is much still to learn — but at the center of the history and traditions and rituals of Hanukkah are universal truths from which we can all learn.
History, unfortunately, is filled with attempts to quash Jewish traditions, and Hanukkah is one of the most visible signs that those efforts have not succeeded. From reclaiming and rededicating the Holy Temple to proudly displaying menorahs in windows and doorways, Jews have persisted in their fight to keep and practice their faith.
The kindling of the menorah’s flame brings a tangible dimension to an incorporeal truth: Light chases away the dark. There is the physical light that illuminates our surrounding for us and an inner light within us — hope, joy, kindness. And the tradition of giving of gifts or money during Hanukkah reminds us that we have more light to share than we might think.
Hanukkah sameach!
