Hanukkah and Lessons Learned from Ancient Israel

Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights will soon be upon us and will run for eight days and nights. In the year 168 B.C.E., the Syrian king Antiochus Epiphanes sent his soldiers to Jerusalem to desecrate the Jewish Holy Temple. That was not enough. In addition, Antiochus also abolished Judaism. The Syrians set up altars and idols to worship Greek gods and Jews were given two options: conversion or death. The Jews, led by Judah the Maccabee, rebelled against King Antiochus. Around 164 B.C., the Maccabees defeated King Antiochus and his troops.

When the Maccabees returned to their ransacked temple, they found only one jar of oil—just enough to light the temple’s candles for one day. But according to the Talmud, the oil miraculously burned for eight days. Hanukkah commemorates the victory of the ancient Hebrews over those who sought to crush their faith. The triumph is symbolized by the miracle of light. It commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in 164 B.C. after three years of war.

Now it is 2023. It is almost ironic that the first night of Hanukkah this year, December 7, falls exactly two months after the brutal, murderous attack by Hamas on innocent Israeli civilians including children and babies.

Much like the war waged by the Maccabees, this is a war that will be fought until Israelis can live safely again in their homes without fear of being murdered for being Jewish. Because make no mistake, this war is about Jewish survival. While many say it's a territorial war, it is not. It is about the Jewish people's right to exist and live freely as Jews in the land given to them by God. Unless you are keenly aware of the war(s) between Israel and the Muslims, you may not understand how deep antisemitism runs in the Muslim world. Their hatred of Jews is on a par with Hilter's, and in fact, bold Arab leaders often say they are intent on finishing what Hilter started. In the West, politicians and leaders have long sought peace in the Middle East. What the West does not comprehend is how can there be peace when the Arabs hate Jews with such a fervor that they see no resolution short of annihilating every Jew standing on Israeli land?

That is why as Jews, this year, perhaps more than any other, we must light the candles all eight nights and remember that this is not the first time that a group has tried to annihilate us. It didn't work then, and it won't work now. Am Israel Chai!