The Lights of Hanukkah
by
Libby Simon
Hanukkah, the Jewish holiday, which in 1998 is celebrated from December 14 to December 21, means potato latkes (pancakes), dreidles (spinning tops), Hanukkah gelt (money), both the real and chocolate kind, and warm festive family gatherings.
My own memories of Hanukkah are of the wonderful smells wafting from the kitchen carrying with them the anticipation and excitement of fun, friends and family. I also remember my mother faithfully lighting the menorah candles, adding one each night until all eight were brightly flickering on the last night, casting a glow of light and warmth throughout the house.
But this is Hanukkah from a child's perspective. Now that I am grown up (or so I'm told), I recognize it as much more than latkes, dreidles and gelt. These are the symbols that remind us of a fight — a fight for freedom and independence, one that has been fought for centuries, and continues to be fought by people all over the world.
The story of Hanukkah celebrates the victory of the Maccabees and the miracle of the oil that lasted for eight days instead of just one. In the fourth century, B.C., King Antiochus declared an edict to force all people to give up their traditional rituals and religious practices and worship according to his rule. The Jews saw this as a threat to their religious principles, and rebelled. They fought and eventually reclaimed their temple that had been destroyed. Here they found one cruse of oil with which to re-dedicate the temple, enough to last for only one day. But a miracle happened! Instead, this small cruse of oil continued to burn for eight days!
To commemorate this miracle, a candle is lit each night until eight candles are burning brightly on the menorah. It helps to bind us within families and with the families of mankind. Why help keep it alive for so many years? It serves to remind us of the importance of preserving the universal principles of freedom and independence. The light is the symbol for our commitment and re-dedication to justice and to freedom. It is best summed up by Peter, Paul and Mary in the chorus of a beautiful song called Light One Candle:
Don't let the light go out
It's lasted for so many years.
Don't let the light go out,
Let it shine through our love and our tears.