In the Talmud (Bavli Shabbat) we read that the reason for lighting Hanukkah candles is Pirsumah D’Nisa, פרסומא דניסה, “advertising the miracle” (of Hanukkah). We light the Menorah on a window sill in order to make it visible to the world. The lights are meant as a reminder that the Jewish people suffered oppression by the Greeks, dared to rebel against the superior Greek fighting forces, and with HaShem’s help prevailed.
On this year’s Hanukkah it is hard to ignore that 1200 victims of the massacre have not prevailed but perished instead. Over a hundred hostages are still at risk, which distresses us to no end. The Hebrew word Nes, נס, miracle, shares a root with the word Nisayon, נסיון, testing-experience. For sixty days and counting the horrendous experiences of the Dark Shabbat’s innocent victims along with the heroic experiences of the defenders are being constantly advertised on all media channels, electronic window sills of sorts. The fighting in Gaza to wipeout the Hamas is still raging and broadcast as well.
This Hanukkah seems to be up-side-down, tragedy advertised for all to see, and miracles, if any, insufficient to blunt the magnitude of the trauma. When tragedies are being advertised, where is the light? The victims. This year we hold our murdered and captured ones as shining lights, each a bright candle in sharp relief to the shear darkness of their tormentors. We are inspired by the lights of their souls and the stories of their lives, and have vowed to never forget.
However, miracles are not all lost. One miracle remains, which is the phenomenon of enduring Jewish hope. We are indeed a stiff-necked nation who have clung onto hope come hell to high water for about 4000 years. Jewish hopefulness can be seen as the constant miracle of miracles. תקווה, hope, shares a root with מקווה, Mikvah, ritual bath. We purify ourselves with the waters of our hope and move on stronger. This is who we, Jews, are and will always be.
May the tragic experience of October 7, that has affected us all, turn into greater miracles and more hope for a long time to come. We pray that the one who ordains peace in the heavens ordain peace amongst us, and all of Israel. Wishing you a Hanukkah of light and joy despite all or to spite it all.
Happy Hanukkah.
Rabbi Reuben modek
