"In those days. . .in our time."
The Menorah
In the Holy Temple, the flames of the Temple Menorah radiated Holy Light to the entire world. Unlike the Temple Menorah of seven flames, our Chanukah menorah has eight. While the Temple Menorah was lit during the day, the Chanukah Menorah is kindled at night. Furthermore, the Temple Menorah stood indoors, but the Chanukah menorah is placed "on the outer doorway" or window facing the street.
The Temple Menorah's seven flames allude to perfection within the natural order, i.e. seven days of the week and the seven primary traits of the human character. In our diverse society, some excel in the trait of chessed (love, benevolence), others in the attribute of gevurah (self-discipline, fear of G‑d); still others exemplify tiferet (harmony, compassion), netzach (ambition), hod (humility, devotion), yesod (communicativity) or malchut (regality, receptiveness).
The Temple's Menorah was hammered out of a single piece of gold, for all souls originate from the same heavenly source, each equally "a part of G‑d above." All lamps faced the center of the Menorah, just as all souls aspire to the same goal. In the Holy Temple, when G‑dliness was revealed, the seven lamps provided sufficient light. But the Chanukah lamps that illuminate the darkness of exile need additional light to transcend the natural order. The eight Chanukah lamps reflect a supernatural light that is not bound by limitations.
The Oil
Oil signifies distilled essence. It is distinct and separate, rising to the surface above all other liquids. While other liquids remain static and do not spread about, oil, like the soul, penetrates and affects everything. Defiling the sacred oil, the Greeks tried to destroy the essence of the Jewish soul.
The Wick
The Oil
Oil signifies distilled essence. It is distinct and separate, rising to the surface above all other liquids. While other liquids remain static and do not spread about, oil, like the soul, penetrates and affects everything. Defiling the sacred oil, the Greeks tried to destroy the essence of the Jewish soul.
The Wick
A wick without oil yields little light. A life without Torah and mitzvot, although burning with spiritual desire aspiring to G‑d, cannot sustain its flame. It might experience flashes of ecstatic spiritual experience, but lacking the 'oil' of genuine Divine substance, it dies out and fails to provide enduring light. But when the wick is inserted into the oil and lit, it absorbs, conveys and transforms the oil into a steady light.
The Flames
The Chanukah lights are sacred. We are not permitted to make use of them, only to gaze at them, affirming the supremacy of Divine light over human limitations.
Our mission is to harness the light of day to illuminate the night: we strive to cultivate all that is good and G‑dly in our world, and direct these positive resources to overcome and transform the negative "dark side" of creation. This process was exemplified by the lighting of the Temple Menorah: kindled before day's end in the Temple's inner sanctum, the Menorah radiated its Divine glow beyond the Temple to the dark world outside.
But there are times when the darkness invades the Divine lighthouse, dimming the Menorah and defiling its oil. Times when we can no longer draw from the day to illuminate the night.
In such times, we must search for the hidden "single cruse of pure oil," the undefilableessence of creation. We must delve below the surface realities of "day" and "night" to unearth the primordial singularity of light and darkness.
Placed where it can be seen from the street, the Chanukah Menorah teaches us to spread the light of Torah to all our surroundings.
Lit at nightfall, Chanukah reminds us that even in our darkest moments, the light of knowledge can shine brightly, that Redemption is at hand with just one more flame.
History
In 164 B.C.E., the cruel tyrant Antiochus IV ruled the Syrian territories of the Greek Empire, which included Israel.
One by one, nations of the ancient world traded in their gods for new Greek ones. The sweep of Greek culture, or Hellenism, meant acceptance of pagan gods of the pantheon and Greek philosophy.
Belief in the ultimate reliability of human reason and in physical beauty for its own sake characterized Greek thought. From the Greek perspective, the Torah could be admired as good literature, philosophy, history and ethics, but not considered holy.
Jews who sympathized with the Hellenist view gained power and prominence, as Greek rulers appointed them to important positions in government and religious life. The sophisticated, powerful elite adopted Greek names, Greek dress and Greek thought. Bowing to Greek idols, they rejected their own faith.
Meanwhile, in the hills and villages, the Jewish masses remained loyal to Torah. seven flames Infuriated, Antiochus sent soldiers to wipe out their stubborn "old-fashioned" ways. Harsh measures were taken to eliminate the Jewish religion. The Greeks forbade Torah study. Jewish martyrs defied the ban on Brit Milah and Shabbat in the face of torture and death.
Heroic acts included those of Chana and her seven sons, who perished rather than bow to a Greek idol, and the aged priest Eliezer was slain when he refused non-kosher meat.
In the town of Modin, the elderly Kohen Matityahu and his five sons began a rebellion that led to the expulsion of the entire Greek army. They called themselves the Maccabees.
"Maccabee" is an acrostic of four Hebrew words: "Mi Komochah B'eilim Hashem," "Who is like Thee, Oh G‑d." The tiny band, with enormous faith and courage, fought the might of the entire Greek arsenal and ultimately prevailed.
A brave heroine, Yehudit, helped secure a victory by slaying Holofernes, a vicious Greek general. Giving him salty cheese, followed by wine to quench his thirst, he fell into a deep slumber. She then seized his sword and slew him. His soldiers fled in fear and confusion.
The Maccabees then turned their attention to the center of Jewish life, the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Entering the Temple to clean and restore what had been pillaged and defiled, the Maccabees searched for sacred oil to light the Menorah. Their search revealed only one small jar of oil that had not been ritually defiled by Greek soldiers. The oil was sufficient to light the Menorah for only one day.
Miraculously, the oil burned a full eight days, until newly pressed oil could be obtained.
The Menorah we light today is reminiscent of the beautiful golden, seven-branched Menorah. Today's Menorah has eight branches, plus a ninth place for the shamash.
We are urged to publicize the miracle, by lighting the Menorah where all can see it. Menorahs are prominently displayed in public places. The Menorah symbolizes freedom, not only from ancient tyrants, but also from a spiritual darkness at all times.
