Happy Hanukkah!
- News
Sundown Sunday, November 28 marked the beginning of the celebration of Hanukkah, which continues until sundown on Monday, December 6. This Festival of Lights commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after a successful uprising by the Maccabees against their Greek-Syrian oppressors. During this rededication, the Talmud tells us, there was enough oil to light the menorahs of the Temple for a single day, yet the flames burned for eight days, enough time to get a supply of oil to keep them burning continuously!
This image of light in the darkness correlates with both the seasonal reality of the shortening of the days as we near the winter solstice as well as provides us with a wonderful remembrance of God’s ability to help us to keep the sacred light in us alive in times of personal or social darkness.
We wish all our Jewish families a Happy Hanukkah, and join with you in celebrating God’s light alive in our lives and in our world. May you and your families enjoy this festive time and may it continue to bring you many blessings!
Faithfully,
James +