Rabbi Heller's Blog

Over 2,000 years ago, the Syrian Greeks desecrated the holy Temple and attempted to wipe out Jewish practice and observance. The Maccabees soon rose up to fight their oppressors, and after years of fighting they rededicated the Temple on the 25th of Kislev. Every Jewish child is familiar with the story that Judah and his brothers lit the menorah even though there was not enough holy oil, but miraculously a small amount lasted for eight days until new holy oil could be made. 

However, we rarely ask why the Maccabees didn’t wait to rededicate the Temple until they had everything they needed. Why hope for a miracle when you could just wait a few days and celebrate at the beginning of the next month with all the needed supplies in place?
 
In fact, the book of Maccabees tells us that the date was not chosen at random. That same date, the 25th of Kislev, was the very anniversary of the Temple’s desecration three years earlier. By choosing the exact date that the pagans had defiled the Temple as the date of its rededication, the Maccabees displayed a particular type of resilience and strength. They knew that they were not quite ready, but there was a point to be made-- that they would not allow a particular date on the calendar to be stolen from them. Moreover, in their observance, they adopted aspects of the holidays of Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret that they had missed because of the war.
 
We are living in a time when we face our own challenges of resilience and the lessons of the first Hanukkah stand strong. A few months ago, we observed the first anniversary of October 7th, which took place on Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. We honored the memories of that date, but would not let those who seek to destroy us steal our days of celebration from us.   
 
The battle of the Maccabees continued for many years after the first Hanukkah, both on the fields of battle and politics. Our Jewish people are having the same experience. Our cousins in Israel continue to fight an existential war against those who seek their destruction.

As the observances of Hanukkah became fixed, it became one of the few holidays that required a public display. The menorah needed to be placed in the doorway or where it would be visible to passers-by. There had to be a public display of pride, which could sometimes be perilous.  Today, Jews in many corners of the world are having the experience of worrying whether it is safe for them to display a menorah or to stand out as Jewish at all. From Europe to Australia, from Canada to the UAE, and even college campuses here in the United States. 
 
And so, when we put a menorah in the window-- when we identify publicly with our faith and our people, by refusing to let this date and this light be claimed by others, we are carrying on the tradition of the Maccabees. The Maccabees lit their lights in that moment of uncertainty, somehow confident that they would not be extinguished. We can do no less.
 
As we light our lights this year, let it be with the awareness that we are lighting, not only for ourselves and not only for the generations that came before, but for those who cannot put a light in the window this year. May our lights shine a bit longer and brighter with that knowledge.
 
On behalf of B’nai Torah’s Rabbis, staff, volunteers, our families and our entire community, we wish you and all who are dear to you a meaningful and joyous festival of lights.