The Light of Chanukah- The Light of Hope!
We usher in Chanukah G_D willing this week on Thursday night, the 21 of December. As we are approaching Chanukah we can prepare by learning at least one of the many lessons that Chanukah has to offer us.
After our forefathers at those times defeated the Greeks in a miraculous war they reentered the Temple. The Greeks had defiled all of the oil except for one remaining jug found still intact. This oil was required in order to perform the daily lighting of the Menorah in the Temple that was still standing in Jerusalem. The Temple site is where the famous Arab mosque stands today in Jerusalem, near the Western wall. The Western wall is the only intact remains of the once glorious Temple. It is that same place which is still under fierce battle and which is rightfully ours. That oil, which only had enough to burn one day, by way of a miracle lasted for 8 straight days. It lasted eight days since that was the amount of time it took to make a fresh batch of pure oil fit for Temple usage. It is this miracle which we rejoice over every year during Chanukah. What message does this have for us in our lives?
One of the most famous questions that men of reason have pondered for hundreds of years is in regard to Chanukah is the following.
As we explained there are eight days of Chanukah to commemorate the fact that the oil burned miraculously for eight days. The question that has perplexed the sages throughout the centuries is that there was really enough oil for the candles to burn one day. The miracle was really then only the seven extra days that it burnt. This being so, why is Chanukah celebrated for eight days?
Some commentators point out an interesting phenomenon about Chanukah which we can all testify to. Despite how far some Jews may have removed themselves from Judaism, yet many who keep almost nothing else will still light a menorah of some sort on Chanukah. Why is that?
King David fought one of the most famous single handed battles in not only Jewish History but in world history. This is the battles against the giant Goliath. The King to be David, who at the time was not yet king, shot at him with a mere sling shot and with G_D's help hit him in the head, through the hole of his helmet. Goliath fell dead and King David cut off his head. At that time something strange happened. Instead of Goliath falling backwards, which would be have been the norm, he fell forward. Why was this small miracle necessary? Would it have made any difference if King David would have had to take a few extra steps to reach his head?
Latest Articles