To Dedicate

“Hanukkah: To Dedicate.”

Hanukkah is a Jewish festival commemorating the recovery of Jerusalem and the subsequent re-dedication of a sacred synagogue.  Also known as The Festival of Lights, Hanukkah is marked by an eight-night display of dancing flames atop candles held in a nine-pronged menorah. The lights convey warmth and comfort, but more importantly, a miracle.

The story of this miracle begins over two thousand years ago, in 175 B.C., when Antiochus ascended to the throne of Greco-Syria. He appended to his name the title Epiphanes (“God Manifest”) to his name; but many people referred to him instead as Antiochus Epimames (“The Madman”). He apparently wanted to rule the entire world. Aiming to first conquer and annex Egypt, he began his campaign by imposing his will on the Jewish people. He outlawed Judaism and proclaimed that all Jews must instead worship Zeus, setting a statue of Zeus in the middle of their synagogue. He then slaughtered pigs on their altar, desecrating the temple.

The priest Mattityahu, however, refused to assimilate. He and his five sons, who came to be known as the Maccabees (Hebrew for “Hammer” or “Extinguishers”) bravely rose up, risking their lives to reclaim their city and their temple. They rallied a small band of dedicated followers and finally recaptured Jerusalem in 164 B.C., winning not only the war but also the protection of the Torah, the body of wisdom which guides the Jewish people and was received at Mount Sinai from God.

Overjoyed by their victory, the people of Jerusalem began to cleanse their synagogue for rededication, soon discovering that only one jug of oil, blessed and sealed by the high priest, the Kohen Gadol, remained for them to light the everlasting lamp. This lamp represents “the one God” and even today burns continuously in every synagogue in the world, It is never extinguished. But one jug was only enough oil to keep it lit for one night. The Macabees sent out a runner for more.

To their amazement, however, that one blessed jug of oil burnt for eight nights, until more containers of sacred oil arrived. “It’s a miracle,” the Jewish people shouted as they danced. And the Hanukkah celebration grew out of their wonderment. Each year, to this very day — December 7th, the first night of Hanukkah in 2023 — the lights of the menorah reassure the Jewish people that strength, tenacity, and hope will always prevail.

Over eight days, the number of lights are increased by one each night. An extra light, called a shammash, meaning “servant,” is also lit each night, and is given the task of lighting each candle before being set in a distinct location with the display, usually higher or to the side of the others.

The purpose of the shammash is to adhere to the prohibition, specified in the Talmud, against using the Hanukkah lights for anything other than publicizing and meditating on the Hanukkah miracle. The Hanukkah lights are not for the “lighting of the house within” but rather for the “illumination of the house without,” so that passersby should see it and be reminded of the holiday’s miracle.  

It is important to the Jewish people that the menorah be a prominent public display for all to see.  

Here in Pelican, the day before Thanksgiving, massive and very prominent Christmas decorations were erected in Town Center and in the Brokke Center. I was just finishing my weekly session with the Playful Pelicans when my husband, Andy, arrived in distress. He had seen the decorations and had looked in vain for a complementary menorah. Finding none, he’d gone to the Administration office to ask where it was. After all, Hannukah arrives on December 7th this year, eighteen days before Christmas. But all the staff had gone home for Thanksgiving at 2:00 that Wednesday, as the decorations were being assembled, and would not return until the following Monday.

Andy was deeply by the imbalance. Do they not know, he wondered? Do they not care? He began to talk about moving. It was that bad for my observant loving Jewish husband. I resolved to do what I could, as a one-size-fits-all Unitarian, to educate the community and create space and honor for all my Jewish friends and neighbors. And so, I begin by telling the Story of Hanukkah to all of you.*

Tonight, Andy will light the first candle in our home, using a beautiful rosewood menorah given to him by my mother, an Episcopalian. He will say, from memory, in Hebrew and in English, three blessings:

1. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר חֲנֻכָּה

Baruch Atah Adonai Elohenu Melech haolam asher kideshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu lehadlik ner shal Hanukkah.

Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the Hanukkah light.

2. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁעָשָׂה נִסִּים לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בִּזְּמַן הַזֶּה

Baruch Atah Adonai Elohenu Melech Haolam sheasa nisim laavotenu bayamim hahem bizman hazeh.

Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who performed miracles for our forefathers in those days, at this time.

And on the first night, there is a third blessing:

3.  3. .בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לִזְּמַן הַזֶּה

Baruch Atah Adonai Elohenu Melech Haolam Shehe cheyanu vekiyimanu vehigianu lizman hazeh.

Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.

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* NOTE:  Since writing this piece over the week-end, I have since met individually with KW staff. At the end of a meeting with our property manager, Jennifer Lewis, she agreed to buy a sparkling, blue and white, 33’ Hanukkah garland to place in the Brokke Café and in the coffee area in the old library. It will arrive on Day Two of Hanukkah. So, progress has been made.