Hanukkah 5772 (2011)

"And (we thank You) for the miracles, and for the salvation, and for the mighty deeds, and for the victories, and for the battles which You performed for our forefathers in those days, at this time." ~The Al HaNisim

This year marks our 13th year of celebrating Hanukkah in our family.  This year marks our second year celebrating outside a community of faith.  This year, I want to take time to really think about our traditions - passed down from one who taught me well and through the centuries since the events of the Maccabees.  True, it's not one commanded in the Scriptures, but it is one that has become a welcome commemoration each year.

Each night, we light the candles in our hanukkiah and recite the verses chosen to fit along with the traditional blessings.  We eat latkes, sufganiot (jelly donuts), and other delectable treats all for the purpose of remembering what our G-d did for our people so long ago.  A few brave Israelis overcame thousands of foes cleansing the Temple of the desecrations and rededicating it to the Holy One of Israel.  That's the pattern of our people - overcoming the enemy against all odds.  Of course, we did not do it on our own strength but by the power of our Most Holy G-d.

So, as we say at all these kinds of celebrations:  They tried to kill us.  We won.  Let's eat!

Hanukkah circa 2000

Redemption Against All Odds. Throughout the ages, Chanukah has signified the miraculous triumph of the weak over the strong, the pure over the impure, the righteous over the wicked. No matter how dark the night, the Chanukah lights proclaim with confidence that the dawn of deliverance is near.  ~Anshe emes

Some thoughts I found worth pondering from Rabbi David Schuck:

The light of the candles can also illuminate within us things that we carry around, hidden from ourselves and others. Things like jealousy, cruelty, insensitivity, and insecurity. They are difficult to see so we prefer to keep them anonymous, in the darkness of the deep wells of our soul, unseen and invisible. This is a way of denying their very existence. It can be terrifying to see these things because we become overwhelmed with the feeling that we will not have the power to change them, or even scarier, that we will not have the compassion to accept that they are a part of who we are. But if we keep them in the dark, they fester and grow and begin to take up too much room in our hearts and souls, pushing more and more light out.

circa 2004

"We thank Thee for the miracles, the redemption, and the triumphant victories, and liberation which Thou hast wrought for our fathers in days of old at this season."

Chag Sameach, my friends!

for more worthwhile thoughts on the festival, click HERE.