The significance of chanukah
(Based on the works of the rebbe.)
At War With The Soul
King Antiochus was not out to annihilate the Jewish people (G-d forbid) or to enslave us, or drive us from our land. The Greeks were at war not with our physical existence, but with our souls. Their aim was to strip our way of life of its spirituality, of its holiness. It was acceptable, in the eyes of the Hellenists, for Jews to identify as Jews, and even to study Torah and do mitzvas, provided that we were willing to forsake the G-dliness of Torah. The pragmatic materialism of Greek culture left no room for our special relationship with G-d.
This idea has particular significance in the modern world.
Today, thank G-d, the majority of world Jewry lives in relative material comfort. Democratic society affirms our basic rights of survival, and many opportunities are available to Jews that were denied us in more oppressive times. These blessings, however, have also made it easy to overlook the very source of our strength as a people.
Like the Hellenists of old, today's prevailing secular culture, with its emphasis on materialism and hedonism, can obscure the spiritual aspect of life.
The Chanukah lights are sacred. As we say in the prayer after lighting the menorah, "We are not permitted to make use of them, only to look at them, and offer thanks and praise... for Your miracles, for Your wonders, and for Your salvations."
We affirm the supremacy of spiritual light over coarse materialism, of Divine wisdom over human limitations. We recognize that the world in which we live is not an end in itself, but exists to serve a higher spiritual purpose.
Illuminating the Darkness
A great Rabbi once remarked that "You cannot chase away darkness with a stick, you have to turn on the light." The way to eliminate darkness -- to rid the world of ignorance, negativity, hatred and greed -- is to kindle the lights of knowledge, generosity, hope and love.
The Chanukah menorah is lit only after nightfall. This signifies that our purpose is to illuminate the darkness of this world, until the time when, as the Prophet says, "the world will be filled with the knowledge of G-d." It may be difficult for us to perceive G-dliness in our everyday lives. But Chanukah reminds us, even in our darkest moments, that the light of knowledge can shine brightly, that redemption is at hand, if we will kindle just one more lamp.
Spreading the Light
The menorah is lit either in the doorway, or in a front window, so that it can be seen outside in the street. This teaches us that it is not enough to bring light into our own private domain. We must spread the light and warmth of Torah to the outer environment as well, as far as our influence can reach.
Brighter and Brighter
Each night of Chanukah, we add another light to the menorah, until all eight lamps shine on the eighth night. This signifies that in matters of holiness, we must always be on the increase. With every added flame, we go from strength to strength in deepening our commitment to the values and traditions of our Jewish way of life.
Defiling the Oil
The Syrian-Greek desecration of the Holy Temple was another example of their determination to destroy the sanctity of Jewish life. The worship of one invisible, omnipotent G-d was replaced with the worship of pagan deities made in the image of man.
The Torah tells us that "the soul of man is the lamp of G-d." Just as oil permeates the olive, the Divine soul permeates the Jew; and just as the oil burning in the menorah spreads light, the Jewish soul illuminates the world in the performance of good deeds. In defiling the sacred oil of the menorah, the Greeks tried to destroy the Jewish soul.
One Cruse of Pure Oil
But the soul cannot be extinguished. Miraculously, despite the best efforts of the oppressors, one cruse of pure oil remained in the Temple, and one cruse was enough to re-dedicate the Temple and renew the holy task of spreading light throughout the world.
Miracles For Today
The lights of the Chanukah menorah are more than simply a reminder of ancient miracles, they are meant to provide inspiration and illumination in our contemporary daily lives. In fact, in a very real sense, the Chanukah miracles of old are re-enacted in our observance today. That is one reason why we say, in the second blessing recited over the Chanukah lights, "...Blessed are You... who wrought miracles for our ancestors, in those days, **at this time**." By reflecting upon the significance of the Chanukah miracles, we can see, with ever-increasing clarity, the miraculous dimension of events in our own time.
What is a Miracle?
Ordinarily, the routine of our day-to-day existence suggests that life is predictable, that events take place according to a natural order, a chain of cause and effect. We may not readily recognize that even "natural" phenomena are, in essence, evidence of the miraculous hand of G-d, until our hearts are stirred by a beautiful sunset, or a glimpse of wildflowers in bloom...
But there is another sort of miracle: an event so striking, so far beyond rational explanation, that we cannot help but recognize it as miraculous. This is the kind of miracle that Chanukah calls to mind.
When one day's supply of oil lasts eight full days, we sit up and take notice. When an ill-equipped handful of Maccabees succeed in vanquishing all the assembled forces of a mighty imperial oppressor, we realize that nothing is impossible for G-d.
Redemption, Against all Odds
In the time of King Antiochus, the fate of the Jewish people seemed grim indeed. The vastly outnumbered Maccabees were up against the world's most sophisticated military machine. They faced opposition from within, as well. Many of their brethren were meek, complacent, and all too willing to forsake their heritage and assimilate into the Hellenistic culture. It was the proverbial "darkest hour before the dawn." Yet, sure enough, with the dawn, came the miraculous, unprecedented victory. With G-d's help and against all odds, the Maccabees were able to reclaim the Holy Land and re-dedicate the Holy Temple.
Throughout the ages, Chanukah has signified the miraculous triumph of the weak over the strong, the pure over the impure, the righteous over the wicked. Whenever the integrity of the Jewish people is under siege, no matter how dark the night, the Chanukah lights proclaim with confidence that the dawn of deliverance is near.
The Ultimate Miracle
Today, the Chanukah lights have special relevance. Many among us despair of ever witnessing the dawn of redemption. After nearly two thousand years, it may seem that the cold, hard realities of exile have all but erased our age- old faith in the coming of Moshiach, who will lead us toward a perfect world. But Chanukah reminds us that G-d grants redemption in the blink of an eye, that the light of G-dliness can brighten even the darkest night.
With every lamp we kindle, with each good deed we do, we shed more light upon the world, and the darkness has already begun to disperse. Who could have imagined, a few short years ago, that communism would crumble, that entrenched totalitarian regimes would turn toward democracy, that hundreds of thousands of oppressed Jews would suddenly be free to emigrate to the Promised Land? Isaiah's messianic prophecy was that the nations of the world will "beat swords into plowshares." It's been our dream for centuries; it may well be tomorrow's headline.
Eight Days, Eight Lights
Our Sages explain that there is particular significance in the fact that the Chanukah menorah has eight lamps, and that we celebrate the Festival for eight days.
In the Holy Temple, the golden Menorah kindled each day in the Sanctuary had only seven lamps. The number seven represents the natural cycle of time: the seven days of the week, corresponding to the six days of Creation and the seventh, the Sabbath Day. Throughout history, since G-d created the world, time has been measured according to this seven-day cycle.
The number eight, however, represents a level that is higher than nature, and above time. This is the level of the miraculous, which is not bound by the laws of nature. It is especially fitting that we celebrate the miracle of Chanukah with eight lamps, culminating on the eighth day... for the number eight is also associated with the revelation of Moshiach, may he come speedily, in our days!
Maana ya Chanukah (Kwa kuzingatia kazi za Rebbe.) "Mfalme Antioko hakutaka kuangamiza Wayahudi, au kutufanya watumwa, au kutufukuza kutoka nchi yetu.""" Wagiriki walikuwa katika vita si na uhai wetu wa kimwili, bali na roho zetu. Lengo lao lilikuwa kuondoa hali ya kiroho na utakatifu wa maisha yetu. Kwa maoni ya Wa-Yunani, Wayahudi walipaswa kujitambulisha kama Wayahudi, na hata kujifunza Torati na kufanya mitzvot, ikiwa tu tulikuwa tayari kuachana na Uungu wa Torati. Utu wa kimwili wa utamaduni wa Kigiriki haukuweka nafasi kwa uhusiano wetu wa pekee na Mungu. Wazo hilo lina maana ya pekee katika ulimwengu wa kisasa. Leo, shukrani kwa Mungu, Wayahudi wengi ulimwenguni wanaishi katika starehe ya kimwili. Jamii ya kidemokrasia inathibitisha haki zetu za msingi za kuishi, na fursa nyingi zinapatikana kwa Wayahudi ambazo zilikataliwa katika nyakati za ukandamizaji zaidi. Hata hivyo, baraka hizi pia zimefanya iwe rahisi kupuuza chanzo cha nguvu zetu kama watu. Kama vile Wa-Hellenisti wa kale, utamaduni wa kilimwengu unaoenea leo, wenye kukazia mambo ya kimwili na ya raha, waweza kuficha sehemu ya kiroho ya maisha. Taa za Chanukah ni takatifu. "Kama tunavyosema katika sala baada ya kuwasha Menorah, ""Hatuwezi kuitumia, tuitazame, na kutoa shukrani na sifa kwa miujiza yako, kwa maajabu yako, na kwa wokovu wako.""" Tunathibitisha ukuu wa nuru ya kiroho juu ya uhalisi wa kijuujuu, wa hekima ya kimungu juu ya mapungufu ya kibinadamu. Tunajua kwamba ulimwengu tunaoishi si mwisho kwa wenyewe, lakini upo ili kutumikia kusudi la juu zaidi la kiroho. "Kutumia Nuru: ""Rabi mmoja mkuu alisema, 'Huwezi kuondoa giza kwa fimbo, lazima uwashe nuru.'""" Njia ya kuondoa giza - kuondoa ulimwengu wa ujinga, ubaya, chuki na pupa - ni kuwasha taa za maarifa, ukarimu, matumaini na upendo. Menora ya Chanukah huwaka tu baada ya giza kutua. "Hii inamaanisha kwamba kusudi letu ni kuangaza giza la ulimwengu huu, hadi wakati ambapo, kama Nabii anavyosema, ""ulimwengu utajazwa maarifa ya Mungu"" - na ni vigumu kwetu kutambua Mungu katika maisha yetu ya kila siku." "Hakuna shaka kwamba, hata katika nyakati zetu za giza, nuru ya maarifa inaweza kung'aa kwa mwangaza, kwamba ukombozi uko karibu, ikiwa tu tutawasha taa moja zaidi. """ Menorah huwasha kwenye mlango au kwenye dirisha la mbele ili iweze kuonekana nje barabarani. Hii inatufundisha kwamba haitoshi tu kuleta nuru katika eneo letu la kibinafsi. Ni lazima tueneze nuru na joto la Torati kwa mazingira ya nje pia, mbali kama ushawishi wetu unaweza kufikia. Kila usiku wa Chanukah, tunazidisha mwanga mwingine kwenye menorah, hadi taa zote nane zitakapowaka usiku wa nane. Hii inamaanisha kwamba katika mambo ya utakatifu, lazima tuendelee kuongezeka. Kwa kila moto ulioongezwa, tunaendelea kutoka nguvu hadi nguvu katika kuimarisha kujitolea kwetu kwa maadili na mila za njia yetu ya maisha ya Kiyahudi. Uchafu wa mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta ya mafuta. Ibada ya Mungu mmoja asiyeonekana, mwenye nguvu zote ilibadilishwa na ibada ya miungu ya kipagani iliyofanyizwa kwa mfano wa mwanadamu. "Kama vile mafuta yanavyoingia kwenye mzeituni, ndivyo Roho Mtakatifu anavyoingia katika Myahudi; na kama vile mafuta yanayoteketezwa katika mnara wa kuabudu yanavyoenea, ndivyo Roho ya Kiyahudi inavyoangaza ulimwengu kwa matendo mema.""" Kwa kuchafua mafuta matakatifu ya menara, Wagiriki walijaribu kuharibu nafsi ya Kiyahudi. Kikombe kimoja cha mafuta safi Lakini nafsi haiwezi kuzimwa. Kwa miujiza, licha ya juhudi zote za waonevu, kikombe kimoja cha mafuta safi kilibaki Hekaluni, na kikombe kimoja kilitosha kuifungia tena Hekalu na kuimarisha kazi takatifu ya kueneza nuru duniani kote. Mwangaza wa Menorah ya Chanukah ni zaidi ya ukumbusho wa miujiza ya kale, ni lengo la kutoa msukumo na mwangaza katika maisha yetu ya kila siku ya kisasa. Kwa kweli, katika maana halisi sana, miujiza ya Chanukah ya zamani hufanywa tena katika maadhimisho yetu leo. "Hii ndiyo sababu ya kusema, katika baraka ya pili inayosomwa juu ya taa za Chanukah, ""Ubarikiwe wewe, uliyewatendea miujiza mababu zetu siku hizo, wakati huu.""" Kwa kutafakari juu ya umuhimu wa miujiza ya Chanukah, tunaweza kuona, kwa uwazi unaozidi kuongezeka, mwelekeo wa miujiza ya matukio katika wakati wetu wenyewe. Muujiza Ni Nini? Kwa kawaida, maisha yetu ya kila siku yanaonyesha kwamba maisha yanaweza kutabiriwa, kwamba matukio hufanyika kulingana na utaratibu wa asili, mnyororo wa sababu na matokeo. Huenda tusitambue mara moja kwamba hata matukio ya "asili" ni, kwa kweli, uthibitisho wa mkono wa miujiza wa Mungu, mpaka mioyo yetu iamshewe na machweo mazuri ya jua, au kuona maua ya mwituni yakifungua... Lakini kuna aina nyingine ya muujiza: tukio la kushangaza sana, ambalo ni mbali sana na ufafanuzi wa kiakili, hivi kwamba hatuwezi kujizuia kulitambua kuwa muujiza. Huo ndio aina ya muujiza ambao Hanukkah hukumbusha. """Kama mafuta ya siku moja yanatosha kwa siku nane kamili, tunaketi na kuchunguza." Wakati wa kufanikiwa kwa makabila ya Makabe, kufanikiwa kwa makabila yote ya waasi, na kufanikiwa kwa makabila yote ya Wayahudi, hakuna kitu kisichowezekana kwa Mungu, wakati wa Mfalme Antioko, hatima ya Wayahudi ilionekana kuwa mbaya sana. Wamakabe waliokuwa wengi kuliko wao walishindana na jeshi la kisasa zaidi ulimwenguni. Walikabili upinzani kutoka ndani pia. Ndugu zao wengi walikuwa wapole, wenye kuridhika, na wote walikuwa tayari sana kuachana na urithi wao na kujiingiza katika utamaduni wa Kigiriki. Ilikuwa "saa yenye giza zaidi kabla ya mapambazuko" ya kisayansi. Hata hivyo, bila shaka, asubuhi ilipokuja, ushindi huo wa kimuujiza usio na kifani ulitokea. Kwa msaada wa Mungu na dhidi ya hali zote, Wamakabe waliweza kurudisha Ardhi Takatifu na kuanzisha upya Hekalu Takatifu. Kwa miaka mingi, Hanukkah imekuwa ikimaanisha ushindi wa kimuujiza wa dhaifu juu ya mwenye nguvu, safi juu ya mchafu, mwenye haki juu ya mwovu. Wakati wowote uadilifu wa Wayahudi unapoathiriwa, haijalishi usiku ni mweusi kiasi gani, taa za Hanukkah zinatangaza kwa ujasiri kwamba mapambazuko ya ukombozi yanakaribia. Leo, taa za Chanukah zina umuhimu wa pekee. Wengi wetu tunatamani sana kuona siku ya ukombozi. Baada ya miaka elfu mbili hivi, huenda ikaonekana kwamba hali mbaya ya uhamisho imefutilia mbali imani yetu ya kale ya kuja kwa Moshia, ambaye atatupeleka kwenye ulimwengu mkamilifu. "Hakuna shaka kwamba Hanukkah ni ""mwisho wa siku"" kwa sababu inaonyesha kwamba Mungu anatoa ukombozi kwa mara ya kwanza, na kwamba mwanga wa Mungu unaweza kuangaza hata usiku wa giza." """Kila taa tunayowasha, kila tendo zuri tunalofanya, tunatoa mwanga zaidi ulimwenguni, na giza limeanza kuenea.""" Ni nani angeweza kuwazia, miaka michache iliyopita, kwamba Ukomunisti ungeanguka, kwamba serikali zenye nguvu za kidemokrasia zingeelekea demokrasia, kwamba mamia ya maelfu ya Wayahudi waliodhulumiwa wangekuwa huru kwa ghafula kuhamia Nchi ya Ahadi? "Isaya alitabiri kwamba mataifa ya ulimwengu yatatengeneza ""upanga kuwa mikuki.""" Imekuwa ndoto yetu kwa karne nyingi; inaweza kuwa kichwa cha habari cha kesho. "Mwaka wa 8 wa Chanuchah ni ""siku ya kuadhimisha"" na ina maana kubwa sana kwa sababu ina taa nane, na inaadhimishwa kwa siku nane." Katika Hekalu Takatifu, Menorah ya dhahabu iliyowashwa kila siku katika Patakatifu ilikuwa na taa saba tu. Nambari saba inawakilisha mzunguko wa kawaida wa wakati: siku saba za wiki, zinazolingana na siku sita za uumbaji na ya saba, siku ya Sabato. Katika historia yote, tangu Mungu alipoumba ulimwengu, wakati umepimwa kulingana na mzunguko huu wa siku saba. Hata hivyo, namba nane inawakilisha kiwango kilicho juu zaidi ya asili, na juu ya wakati. Hii ni ngazi ya miujiza, ambayo haifungwi na sheria za asili. "Hata hivyo, ni muhimu sana kwamba tunasherehekea muujiza wa Chanukah kwa taa nane, ambazo zinafikia kilele siku ya nane, kwa sababu namba nane inahusishwa pia na ufunuo wa Moshiach, ""Aje haraka, katika siku zetu."""