Day 14. Hanukkah: Lighting the Miracle.

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday that celebrates a victory of faith and the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. It begins on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev, typically falling in late November or December.

The Story of the Oil

Hanukkah commemorates the events that followed the Maccabean Revolt in the 2nd century BCE, when a small army of Jews successfully fought against the Seleucid (Syrian-Greek) empire that had desecrated the Holy Temple and outlawed Jewish practices. When the victorious Maccabees reclaimed the Temple, they sought to light the Menorah (the seven-branched candelabrum), but found only a single cruse of ritually pure olive oil, enough to burn for just one day. Miraculously, that small amount of oil burned continuously for eight days, the time needed to prepare a fresh supply of consecrated oil.

The Hanukkiah and Its Meaning

The primary ritual of the holiday is the nightly lighting of the Hanukkiah, often called a Hanukkah Menorah. This candelabrum has nine branches: eight for the nights of the miracle, and one for the Shamash, the “helper” candle, which is used to light the others.
– On the first night, one candle is lit.
– An additional candle is lit each subsequent night.
– By the eighth night, all eight candles are kindled, symbolizing the increasing light and miracle.
The lights are traditionally placed in a window or doorway to “publicize the miracle” for all to see.

Light as Resilience

Hanukkah celebrates not only the military victory of the Maccabees but also the triumph of light over darkness, both physical and spiritual. It reminds Jewish people of their perseverance against religious oppression and the importance of remaining dedicated, Hanukkah means “dedication” in Hebrew, to their faith and identity. For Unitarian Universalists, Hanukkah affirms the principle of covenant and the sacred value of perseverance in the face of overwhelming odds, recognizing the enduring light that courage and commitment can bring to the world.

Reflection: Where in your life or community do you need to exercise the “light of perseverance” to dedicate yourself anew to a core value?