By: Rabbi David Laine
Hanukah, the Festival of Lights, recalls the victorymore than 2,100 years agoof a militarily weak but spiritually strong Jewish people over the mighty forces of a ruthless enemy that had overrun the Holy Land and threatened to engulf the land and its people in darkness.
The miraculous victoryculminating with the dedication of the Sanctuary in Jerusalem and the rekindling of the Menorah which had been desecrated and extinguished by the enemyhas been celebrated annually ever since during the eight days of Hanukah, by lighting the Hanukah Menorah, also as a symbol and message of the triumph of freedom over oppression, of spirit over matter, of light over darkness.
It is a timely and reassuring message, for the forces of darkness are ever present. Moreover, the danger does not come exclusively from outside; it often lurks close to home, in the form of insidious erosion of time-honored values and principles that are at the foundation of any decent human society. Needless to say, darkness is not chased away by brooms and sticks, but by illumination. Our sages said, “A little light expels a lot of darkness.”
The Hanukah lights remind us, in a most obvious way, that illumination begins at home, within oneself and one’s family, by increasing and intensifying the light of Torah and mitzvot in the everyday experience. But though it begins at home, it does not stop there. Such is the nature of light that, when one kindles the Hanukah lights, they are expressly meant to illuminate the “outside,” symbolically alluding to the duty to bring light to those who, for one reason or another, still walk in darkness.
What is true of the individual is true of a nation, especially this great United States, united under G-d, and generously blessed by G-d with material as well as spiritual riches. It is surely the duty and privilege of this nation to promote all the forces of light both at home and abroad, and in a steadily growing measure.
Let us pray that the message of the Hanukah lights will illuminate the everyday life of everyone personally, and of society at large, for a brighter life in every respectboth materially and spiritually.
