There is an old Jewish joke that all of their holidays are about, “They tried to kill us. We survived. Let’s eat!” While not every Jewish holiday marks a period of persecution, many do. Hanukah is one of the most famous. It is celebrated from today in Jewish families. It’s lovely it co exists with Advent.
Hanukah marks a time in Israel, centuries ago when the Greek empire sought to force the Jews to convert and give up their culture and religion. Hanukah celebrates the underdog story of a small, but determined Jewish army who, against all odds, defended Jerusalem, battling back the Greeks to save the Jewish culture, and reclaimed what was left of the great temple that had been ransacked. Part of that ancient temple still stands today – the Western Wall, one of the most famous destinations in Israel.
To celebrate Hanukah, Jews sing, dance, play dreidel, give gifts, and eat food fried in oil (“latkes” or potato pancakes, and “sufganiyot” or, jelly doughnuts). The oil-fried food, the eight nights, and the menorah, are all to remember the miracle that while cleaning up the temple, the Jews only had one night worth of oil left in the altar’s lamp. Miraculously, that little oil burned for eight nights, enough time to make more oil so the lamp could continue shining bright!
Hanukah as a contribution to multi faith dialogue is a time to remind ourselves that hate and intolerance against anyone just because they are different, like what happened to God’s people so long ago, is unacceptable and something to be spoken up against. A message for this year certainly.
Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein has a lovely quote to think about today : "eternal optimism in the face of hopeless odds — this faith in the power of the few — is an idea that goes right to the heart of Hanukah..."
How do we make a difference with our light? One little candle can change the world.
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