Hanukkah is celebrated by lighting candles each night in a special candelabrum which is called a  menorah or hanukia. This is done to remember a great victory of good over evil more than 2000 years ago. A small band of poorly trained and poorly armed fighters confronted the might of an oppressive Assyrian empire,  descendants of Alexander the Great, and were victorious. It's message is that even in the darkest of times, truth, justice and freedom will ultimately prevail. Hanukkah's eternal and universal message is that light will emerge out of the darkness of despair.
Christmas and Hanukkah are often compared. Perhaps because they always fall in close proximity to each other, and even occasionally coincide. In seems to me that aside from gift giving, which characterizes both holidays, although they are very different from each other, they both incorporate lights as a dominant theme. We talk of Hanukkah as being the Festival of Lights and Christmas certainly emphasizes light in its celebration.
Yesterday was a dark day for America and for mankind. This season should somehow give us the conviction to hope and believe that light will emerge, even at a time when things seem dark. Perhaps this is why the menorah is lit at night and Christams eve is so significant. When the sun has set and the darkness of night arrives, we bring light into our homes,  knowing that the dark period will pass and that the sun will shine again.
Happy holidays to all!




-- Modified on 12/15/2012 8:20:59 PM