TerraNova L.A.
Piercing the darkness
Tonight is the seventh night of the eight-night Jewish festival of Chanukah. This holiday commemorates the expulsion of oppressive Greek-Syrian military forces from the Land of Israel, over 2,000 years ago, by a small band of Jewish patriots. The Greek-Syrians attempted to impose their own moral and religious beliefs on the Jewish people, by force, as well as outlawing practice of the Jewish faith. It is believed that the military victories of the patriots (a group called the Macabees) came about through Divine Providence, and prevented the almost certain forced assimilation of the Jewish People into the occupying, foreign societies.
We mark these miracles by lighting a new candle each night of the holiday, until there is a candle for every one of the eight nights (plus one extra "helper" candle used to light the others). It turns out that the holiday is celebrated during the longest nights of the year (in the Northern Hemisphere), so there is extra symbolism in the piercing of the darkness of religious oppression, by the light of faith and freedom. Throughout much of the last 2,000 year period, Jews have been unable to display their Chanukah menorahs in the exterior windows of their homes, for fear of imprisonment or even violent persecution. I am personally grateful to live in a place and a time when the lights of the menorah can be displayed without fear of retribution, to brighten the longest nights of Winter with faith and hope.
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Featured in Explore 2009.12.17 #218
Piercing the darkness
Tonight is the seventh night of the eight-night Jewish festival of Chanukah. This holiday commemorates the expulsion of oppressive Greek-Syrian military forces from the Land of Israel, over 2,000 years ago, by a small band of Jewish patriots. The Greek-Syrians attempted to impose their own moral and religious beliefs on the Jewish people, by force, as well as outlawing practice of the Jewish faith. It is believed that the military victories of the patriots (a group called the Macabees) came about through Divine Providence, and prevented the almost certain forced assimilation of the Jewish People into the occupying, foreign societies.
We mark these miracles by lighting a new candle each night of the holiday, until there is a candle for every one of the eight nights (plus one extra "helper" candle used to light the others). It turns out that the holiday is celebrated during the longest nights of the year (in the Northern Hemisphere), so there is extra symbolism in the piercing of the darkness of religious oppression, by the light of faith and freedom. Throughout much of the last 2,000 year period, Jews have been unable to display their Chanukah menorahs in the exterior windows of their homes, for fear of imprisonment or even violent persecution. I am personally grateful to live in a place and a time when the lights of the menorah can be displayed without fear of retribution, to brighten the longest nights of Winter with faith and hope.
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Featured in Explore 2009.12.17 #218