Hanukkah: Keep your spirit alight

Happy Hanukkah.

It’s such a beautiful ceremony. After sunset on this third evening of the Festival of Lights, an estimated 5.3 million Americans will light one more candle of the menorah, reciting this Hebrew blessing:

“Blessed are you, Lord our G-d, King of the Universe, who sanctified us by his commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the lights of Hanukkah. Blessed are you, Lord our G-d, King of the Universe, who wrought miracles for our fathers in days of old, at this season.”

Yes, the vowel is purposely left out of the name — a traditional gesture of respect. In Jewish culture a name is no mere word; it conveys the very nature, the essence of its holder.

This is a ceremony of dedication. The word “Chanukah” or “Hanukkah” derives from the Hebrew verb, “to dedicate.”

On the surface, the menorah’s lights symbolize the story of a 2,000-year-old miracle, when a temple lamp with only a day’s oil burned for eight more nights, as Maccabean Jews struggled against Greek forces to regain Jerusalem. On a deeper level lies the victorious rededication of that relocated, desecrated Second Temple in Jerusalem, freeing the faithful from being forced to worship their conquerors’ gods.

The menorah lights also symbolize faith and perseverance. Many others after the Maccabees rose against overwhelming odds — larger forces violently attempting to eradicate or control a people, religion, or way of life. In that sense the story resonates with the peoples of North and South America and, sadly, too many modern struggles against oppression worldwide.

Hanukkah is about standing up for one’s convictions.

Each of the evenly placed candles of the menorah (except the Shamash, the central ninth candle, which lights the others and may be higher), known in Hebrew as the “hanukiah,” is relit nightly, reminding onlookers of the miracle. The candles are left burning until they go out on their own, like the original Hanukiah.

“Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, men cannot live without a spiritual life.” — Gautama Buddha

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Sholeh Patrick is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network. Contact her at Sholeh@cdapress.com.