First published in the Dec. 15 print issue of the Pasadena Outlook.
By Rabbi Joshua Levine Grater
Special to the Outlook
Lasting for eight nights, the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, or the Festival of Lights, commences this Sunday evening, Dec. 18. The Talmud describes Hanukkah as a holiday of “praise and thanksgiving” in commemoration of the miraculous overthrow of the Syrian Greeks, the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem, and the single cruse of oil that lasted eight days.
Hanukkah’s festive atmosphere derives almost entirely from home ritual and customs, and is dominated by light as a metaphor for spiritual freedom. This is emphasized by special holiday songs, games and foods.
The central ritual of Hanukkah is to kindle the lights of the hanukkiyah, the eight-branched candelabrum (commonly referred to as the Hanukkah menorah). These lights increase in strength during the eight days of Hanukkah, with the addition of one candle or lighted wick each night. Because the purpose of these Hanukkah lights is to “advertise the Hanukkah miracle,” the menorah is traditionally lighted in a place where the candles can be seen from out of doors, near a window or a doorway. Because at times they were considered dangerous to display publicly, these candles can be put elsewhere in the house.
Another reminder of the miracle of the legendary cruse of oil comes through the smells and tastes of oil that permeate special Hanukkah foods — potato latkes (pancakes) for Ashkenazi Jews and sufganiyot (jelly donuts) for Sephardic Jews. A popular game is played with a four-sided spinning top known in Yiddish as a dreidel. And in the United States, with Hanukkah’s closeness to Christmas, the tradition of giving presents arose. In truth, however, Hanukkah is considered a “minor holiday” in our calendar, especially in relation to the centrality of Christmas. Don’t tell the kids!
Hanukkah is about the victory of freedom over oppression, light over darkness, and how to navigate the challenges of being a religious minority in society. In this time of heightened extremism, rise in hate speech and antisemitism, the lights of Hanukkah are needed more than ever. The story of Hanukkah is post-biblical, and because of the violent nature of the Maccabees, it was not included in the canon. However, the ancient rabbis sought to overlay the violence with the words of the prophets — “not by might and not by power, but by spirit alone.”
May the lights of the menorah help to stamp out the darkness of hate, ignorance, fear and violence. And in doing so, may the lights shine forth with a message of peace, hope, understanding and love.
Happy Hanukkah!
