Hanukkah, which comes during the darkest time of the year, reminds us of the power of light, to drive away darkness. The central “miracle” of Hanukkah is of oil that burned for eight days when it should have lasted for only one day. As miracles go, this one is pretty bland. But the image of the oil that would not be consumed, that continued to burn when it should have gone out, is a metaphor for the Jewish people who, despite the challenges of our history, have never given up our faith in God or our commitment to a world that can be made better through human effort.
Another central idea of Hanukkah is the power of a small group of dedicated people to change history, as the Maccabees did. Although small in number they challenged the power of the Helenistic empire and won freedom for the Judean state around 170 BCE.
This year, the first day of Hanukkah coincides with the secular date, November 29th. On November 29, 1947 the United Nations approved Resolution 181 that partitioned Palestine into Jewish and Arab states. That resolution was the culmination of 50 years of hard work of the halutzim, the Zionist pioneers, to build the institutions of Jewish statehood. Although accepted by the Jews of Palestine and rejected by the Arabs, Resolution 181 paved the way for the establishment of the State of Israel on May 14, 1948.
Israel would not secure its existence until winning the War of Independence after 18 months of bitter fighting, where the Jewish Yishuv defeated the combined armies of the Arab world. Once again, a small dedicated group changed the course of Jewish history.
In this week’s Haftarah, the prophet Zecharia describes the rebuilt Temple and the candelabra that stands in it, with a constantly burning flame. This is the menorah that required the sacred oil, which is the miracle of Hanukkah. This menorah is also the symbol of the modern State of Israel.
In this week’s Haftarah, in the story of the Maccabees, and in the reestablishment of Jewish sovereignty in the Land of Israel, we see how a small group of people, with spirit, vision, and courage can change history. A little light drives out a great amount of darkness. Hanukkah reminds us to have hope and courage and to remember the potential to change the world for the better is always within us.. ~Rabbi Dean Kertesz
Hanukkah (25 Kislev through 2 Tevet 5782; November 28 through December 6, 2021) Special Haftarah for Shabbat: Zechariah 2:14-4:7
December 3, 2021 by Dean Kertesz • Drashot
Hanukkah, which comes during the darkest time of the year, reminds us of the power of light, to drive away darkness. The central “miracle” of Hanukkah is of oil that burned for eight days when it should have lasted for only one day. As miracles go, this one is pretty bland. But the image of the oil that would not be consumed, that continued to burn when it should have gone out, is a metaphor for the Jewish people who, despite the challenges of our history, have never given up our faith in God or our commitment to a world that can be made better through human effort.
Another central idea of Hanukkah is the power of a small group of dedicated people to change history, as the Maccabees did. Although small in number they challenged the power of the Helenistic empire and won freedom for the Judean state around 170 BCE.
This year, the first day of Hanukkah coincides with the secular date, November 29th. On November 29, 1947 the United Nations approved Resolution 181 that partitioned Palestine into Jewish and Arab states. That resolution was the culmination of 50 years of hard work of the halutzim, the Zionist pioneers, to build the institutions of Jewish statehood. Although accepted by the Jews of Palestine and rejected by the Arabs, Resolution 181 paved the way for the establishment of the State of Israel on May 14, 1948.
Israel would not secure its existence until winning the War of Independence after 18 months of bitter fighting, where the Jewish Yishuv defeated the combined armies of the Arab world. Once again, a small dedicated group changed the course of Jewish history.
In this week’s Haftarah, the prophet Zecharia describes the rebuilt Temple and the candelabra that stands in it, with a constantly burning flame. This is the menorah that required the sacred oil, which is the miracle of Hanukkah. This menorah is also the symbol of the modern State of Israel.
In this week’s Haftarah, in the story of the Maccabees, and in the reestablishment of Jewish sovereignty in the Land of Israel, we see how a small group of people, with spirit, vision, and courage can change history. A little light drives out a great amount of darkness. Hanukkah reminds us to have hope and courage and to remember the potential to change the world for the better is always within us.. ~Rabbi Dean Kertesz