Hersh Goldman
The eight-day Jewish Holiday, Chanukah, will begin the evening of Sunday, Dec. 14.
Chanukah celebrates the miraculously successful Maccabean revolt against the Greco-Syrian Hellenists that tried to force their own culture and religion onto the Jews of ancient Israel. The Talmudic instructions for Chanukah observance is that Jews light festival lights for all eight nights of Chanukah, starting with one light on the first night and adding an extra light to the count each following night. The lighting is to tell how the newly liberated Israelites re-started the Temple Service when they found a container of ritually prepared olive oil for lighting the Temple Menorah (candelabra). There was only enough oil for one day but miraculously, it fueled the Menorah eight days, allowing time for new consecrated-oil to be prepared for replenishment.
“Chanukah” means “renewal,” and it celebrates the cleansing of the defiled Temple and subsequent renewal/revival of the Temple Service. My source for most of aforementioned information is Page 21 of Talmud Volume Shabbat. Talmud Volume Avodah Zarah Page 8 offers an additional dimension to Chanukah. It includes a primordial and universal side to “Renewal” and night-light festivity.
When Adam ate the forbidden fruit and afterward noticed nights growing longer and the days becoming shorter, he thought that because of his sin the world was slowly returning to its original state of darkness and chaos and he became depressed. Eventually, Adam noticed the daylight hours beginning to get longer. He then understood that the long nights were only part of a cycle. He came out of his depression and turned his sadness into days of joyous thanksgiving. I don’t think it is a coincidence that the wintry holiday season sees both the Christian Christmas and the Jewish Chanukah being celebrated with bright lights, singing, and joy.
Chanukah is sometimes called “Chag Hanayrot” (Hebrew for “Festival of Lights”). Lighting candles at night is fun, but wouldn’t Chanukah still be meaningful if the little bit of olive oil didn’t miraculously give light for eight days? I will think outside the box (of Chanukah candles) and volunteer this explanation why the long-burning oil may have been so important:
Imagine how many of the victorious Maccabees may have felt. First, they were euphoric. They had won their independence and control over their land. They won back their Holy Temple and their Jewish lifestyle. Then they looked at the heavy toll endured-bloody warfare, martyrdom, massacres, fleeing their homes and living in caves like hunted animals. They may have wondered if they paid too dearly for their victory. Their Hellenist oppressors believed that might is right. Sometimes one side wins and has the might and sometimes the other side wins. So what did the Jewish victory prove to make them any better than the enemy? They needed a sign. They needed a miracle to prove that G-d was pleased with their victory. They needed to know that they fought the good fight. I feel like singing some of the song, G-d Bless America, “Guide her through the night with a light from above.”
Hersh Goldman is a Swampscott resident.
