Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, begins on Dec. 6 at dusk. Chanukah recalls the victory over 2,100 years ago of a militarily weak but spiritually strong Jewish people over the mighty forces of a ruthless enemy that had terrorized and overrun the Holy Land and threatened to engulf the land and its people in darkness.
The miraculous victory culminated with the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem and the rekindling of the menorah that had been desecrated and extinguished by the enemy. Chanukah has been celebrated annually ever since during these eight days by lighting the Chanukah menorah and retelling the story and message of the triumph of freedom over oppression, of spirit over matter and of light over darkness.
Indeed, Chanukah is a timely and reassuring message, especially in the times that we live in, as 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. As the ancient Jewish wise ones taught it, “A little light expels a lot of darkness.”
The Chanukah 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 the type of spiritual wisdom that drives us to continued performance of acts of goodness and kindness in the everyday experience. And, although the illumination begins at home, it does not stop there. The Chanukah lights are expressly meant to illuminate the “outside,” symbolically alluding to the duty to bring light also to those who, for one reason or another, still walk in darkness.
Let us pray that the message of the Chanukah lights will illuminate the everyday life of everyone personally, and of the society at large, for a brighter life in every respect, both materially and spiritually. For more information about Chanukah, visit jewishmalibu.com/chanuka.
You are most welcome to join us in these celebrations of light.
R’ Levi Yitzchock Cunin