Chanukah, because it occurs in December, is often compared to Christmas. Indeed, in its American incarnation, Chanukah has taken on many of the trappings of the December holiday season: gift-giving, decorations, and parties, none of which are essential elements of either holiday but which add much fun to the season. When we look at the meaning of the two festivals, we may be surprised to see that Chanukah has more in common with Thanksgiving than with Christmas. The main observance of this Festival of Lights is the lighting of the nine-branched candlelabrum, the menorah (the generic term for a lamp in Hebrew) or chanukiah (the more specific name for a Chanukah lamp). The prayers recited at the time of lighting the candles state that this is done "in order to give thanks and praise to God for His miracles, wonders, and saving deeds." Simply put, we light the candles as a sign of thanksgiving. Each day of the holiday we add psalms of praise to our morning service and recall the offerings brought by the princes of the tribes of Israel at the time of the dedication of the desert tabernacle in Moses’ day. Some people suggest that these ancient gifts to God are recalled to a degree in the modern-day gifts that we exchange with family members and friends.
Since the Jewish calendar, like that of the Muslims, is based on the moon but, unlike the Muslim calendar, is adjusted periodically to the seasons of the solar calendar, the date of the first Chanukah light moves back and forth within a 30 day range from late November to late December each year. This year, we begin the eight-day festival on the evening of December 4th and continue until nightfall on the 12th. Each night we add to the light of the chanukiah. One candle is lit on the first night and then two on the second and one more is added each successive evening until eight are lit on the final night. Since the candles are considered holy and may not be used for any secular purpose, but only as a sign of thanksgiving and praise, an additional candle is required, the shamash, by whose light one may perform other tasks. The shamash is also used to light the other candles. In some traditions, I’ve learned, two extra candles are lit, one to provide additional light and the other to light the other candles.
The original miracle of Chanukah in the story of the Maccabees involved the Temple lamp which utilized pure olive oil. Because of this some people make a point of lighting olive oil lamps instead of wax candles. To distinguish the extra lamp from the eight olive oils lights, however, many folks use a wax candle as the shamash.
Everyone agrees that Chanukah is a season of miracles, but what exactly was the miracle of Chanukah? Some see it as the victory of the tiny army of the Maccabees against the mighty forces of the Seleucid king Antiochus IV. Others believe the miracle occurred once the Maccabees began cleansing and rededicating the desecrated Jerusalem Temple. When they tried to relight the seven-branched menorah, they found only a small container of oil, enough for but one night. Miraculously, we are told, this small quantity of oil burned for eight nights. The fact that this story is first told centuries after the events, leads many to see the miracle of the oil as more symbolic than factual. Light stands for holiness, Torah, God’s commandments, learning, spirituality, the human soul, the essence of Judaism and all other good things. It is this positive force in the world, no matter how small its flame may be in any generation that continues to grow and flourish and bring comfort to a world in need of God’s presence. The miracle was the survival of the flame of Torah in the face of the majority culture which threatened to overwhelm it. It is this flame that each generation must watch over and add to.
The additional candle of the chanukiah, the shamash, is a humble servant, used for secular purposes. However, over time, its role was seen by our teachers as one of holiness as well. After all, we ask, who served as the shamash to light the menorah in the ancient Temple? Was it not the holy priests who served before God? When we light the candles on each night of Chanukah we remember that we are part of "a kingdom of priests and a holy nation" and therefore each of us plays an important role in bringing light to this world. Each of us serves as God’s own servant to increase the light, the holiness, in our own household and to bring more light to all people throughout the world.
Chanukah is primarily a holiday celebrated in the home. The minimum requirement, say the ancient rabbis, is for each man and his household to light a single lamp each night. Only if one is able to afford the oil or candles does one follow the practice of adding more and more candles each night. The emphasis in either case is on lighting in the home. Even so, there is a communal aspect to Chanukah as well. It is also appropriate to light candles in the synagogue each night. This year at Temple Israel, a new large wooden menorah is being built by our member Steve Saulten. This electric menorah will stand outside the front door of the Temple at 66 Salmon Street, proclaiming the celebration of Chanukah throughout the week.
We have planned several special events marking the weekend of Chanukah. On Friday evening, December 7th at 6:15 p.m., we will be gathering for our monthly Shabbat on the Road service. This time we’ve decided to hold it at Courville Nursing Home at 44 West Webster St. in Manchester. Congregants will join residents in celebrating Chanukah with a special service and a potluck Shabbat and holiday dinner. Participants are requested to RSVP to the Temple office, 622-6171. Members of the community who have Jewish family members residing at Courville may wish to join us.
On Sunday, December 9th, the entire community is invited to join in a celebration of Chanukah at the Temple from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. There will be games and arts and crafts projects for children from 10:30 to 12:00. At noon, adults will join the children for an annual Chanukah lunch sponsored by the Braverman fund and for a singalong of all the familiar Chanukah songs. At 1:00 p.m. Boston storyteller Cindy Rivka Marshall will join us with Chanukah stories for young and old. There is no charge for this event, but we ask that people call the office to reserve a place for lunch.