The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah commemorates the heroic recapturing of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 139 BCE by the Maccabees, a group of Jewish warriors who fought the Greek King Antiochus’ brutal religious persecution of the Jews in Israel. Upon reclaiming the desecrated Holy Temple, the Maccabees found enough olive oil left to fuel the Menorah’s eternal flame for one day. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days, which was the enough time to make more oil. This was a symbol of divine intervention in the triumph of the Jewish people.
The holiday of Hanukkah has been celebrated for 2163 years, but at no time has it been more relevant as today.
The barbaric attack on October 7, followed by the frenzy wave of antisemitism, the horrifying tsunami of blood thirty calls, the deafening silence of humanitarians and fake faced feminists, the twisted minds of ‘intellectuals’ and dumbing-down of the masses, have all converged to show us in full-color and real-time the reality which Jews have lived in for thousands of years. The never-ending Jew hate story, from the Greeks to the Romans, the Christians and the Muslims, all expropriate our religion, occupied our land, tried to convert and massacred us mercilessly. “In each generation, they rise up against us to destroy us. And the Holy One, blessed be He, rescues us from their hands.”
Yet, we stand here today, thousands of years from the Miracle of Hanukkah, more resolute, proud and determined than ever, asserting our right to be a free people, to thrive and grow in peace in our homeland and around the world now and always 🔯
Like all Jewish holidays, Hanukkah has its historical basis, as well as mystical and symbolic meaning.
Hanukkah comes from the root חנך which form the word dedication חנוכה, as well as the noun חך mouth, and חינוך discipline, education. Education is not just learning the disciplines, but leaning self-discipline and civility. Therefore, the festival is a time for introspection, self-reflection, and the illumination of one’s spirit.
The lighting of the Hannukiya, the nine-branch menorah, is the central ritual of the holiday. Each night, an additional candle is lit, symbolizing the increasing light overcoming darkness, a metaphor for hope, perseverance, and triumph of good over evil.
The Menorah, a seven-branched candelabrum, was placed in the Holy Temple and symbolized universal enlightenment. The seven lamps represent the branches of human knowledge, with the central lamp representing God. The menorah also symbolizes the seven days of creation, with the center light representing the Sabbath.
Tonight we light Shabbat candles, memorial and Hanukkah candles with great sadness intertwined with great hope for revealed miracles, for the hostages to return home, for our soldiers to be safe, for a peaceful future and for His light to fill the Earth soon in our days 🕎
🔯 בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה, יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ, מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁעָשָׂה נִסִּים לַאֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה
🍷🕯🕯 🙏 בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה, יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ, מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה
