Rabbi Alex Carlebach
Chabad of Lyndhurst
Chanukah is a fascinating festival. All are aware that two main miracles are associated with it. One is described in the prayer of Al Hanissim which we add to the Amidah and Birchat Hamazon in this period.
We describe the miraculous victory of an amazing war. We say: “Masarta geborim biyad chalashim; virabeem biyad miateem – You G-d, in your abounding mercies waged their battles; defended their rights and delivered the mighty into the hands of the weak, the many into the hands of the few”, etc.
The second miracle is the famous one with the oil. When the Jews cleansed the holy Temple they could only find one jug of olive oil, still pure, sealed with the seal of the High Priest, sufficient to burn for one night.
They lit it and G-d A-mighty performed the great miracle: It lasted for eight nights, sufficient time to make new pure oil. Ever since then on the 25th of Kislev we light menorahs for eight nights commemorating the miracle of Chanukah.
Yet we are only commemorating one of the miracles, the second one. In what way do we mark the first miracle, the amazing victory in a war that any bookie would give you little, if any, chance of winning?
Look at all the nations of the world, how they mark days of victories. You have D-Day, V-Day, Armistice Day, etc. Where is Jewish Day?
Yet that precisely is the point. When our holy sages were faced with two options and deciding which to celebrate, they taught us to celebrate the victory of light over darkness rather than celebrate wars.
Our holy Torah is a teaching of peace. Our holy traditions not only preach peace, but more importantly, practise it. It says that if you want to fight G-d’s wars, holy wars, light candles, light up the darkness rather than celebrate killing and murder, even if it’s for a good reason.
We are taught that a little light drives away a lot of darkness. Chanukah and Shabbos, are both holy days and both times we light candles, guiding us, our children and all, the best way to combat evil and darkness, be it within ourselves or outside.
Bring light. Torah is referred to as light. Let us illuminate our surrounding by adding a mitzvah, spending time in study of Torah. May that help brighten up the difficult gloom around us.
Let us all declare to ourselves as well as to the outside world, especially the likes of the UN, that “den of darkness” which brings condemnation to the victims of terror and glorifies the perpetrators and terrorists of innocent lives.
We are celebrating the lights of Chanukah rather than victories of even “just and miraculous” wars, because that is what our heritage is all about.
I reach out to any open, just-thinking human, be it a “In my name or not in my name”, lighten the darkness with lights of Chanukah till the great day when once again we will light the true menorah in the third Beit Hamikdash and the whole world will be filled with
