A Hanukkah message from Rabbi Dr. Janet B. Liss

At sundown on Dec. 10, we light the first candle on Hanukkah. Hanukkah means rededication. The eight-day holiday known also as the Festival of Lights commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem celebrating the victory of the Maccabees over the Assyrian Greeks in 165 B.C.E. Under the rule of Antiochus IV, Jews in Israel were forbidden to practice Judaism. The Temple in Jerusalem was desecrated. During this time period, many Jews living under Greek rule assimilated and adopted Greek culture including their dress, their language and customs, many of which were antithetical Jewish practice. A small group of men under the leadership of Judah Maccabee banded together and revolted against both the assimilation of the Hellenistic Jews and the oppression forced upon all of them by the Seleucid Greek government.

Unbeknownst by most people today, including Jews, the holiday lasts for eight days because, since they were banned from observing Jewish holidays, the last one not observed was Sukkot, which lasts for eight days. The well-known story about a little bottle of oil found in the Temple that miraculously lasted eight days following the rededication of the Temple is a myth written 400 years later by the rabbis and found in the Talmud. This myth was written to encourage more people to observe this relatively minor Jewish festival.

What are the Hanukkah takeaways today? The holiday falls at the darkest time of the year and the lights themselves bring joy into our homes. This year more than ever, we look forward to anything that can lighten the darkness that 2020 has brought into all of our lives. The message of the holiday is also important. Our beliefs are worth fighting for and it is important to hold on to our traditions that provide us with grounding, familiarity and a moral compass. The Maccabees’ determination and dedication to fighting for what they believed in is a lesson for oppressed minorities everywhere. Hanukkah is about religious freedom.

We are struggling through very difficult times today. For those of us who are blessed with the love of family, jobs, shelter and food on our tables, this is a time to be generous for those in our community who do not share these blessings. Donate food to NOSH, donate toys, send money to organizations who are feeding people in our country. Think hard before overspending on gifts this year. If anything, Covid-19 has taught us what is important and what really matters. We have all learned that we do not need as much as we thought in the past. Let’s use these lessons to help bring light and joy into the homes and hearts of the less fortunate on the North Shore of Long Island. When we light our candles this year, may we be reminded that we already have the best gift in the world, the gift of life.

May we remember to stay socially-distanced and safe so we will be able to join together in person for a joyous celebration this time next year.

Rabbi Dr. Janet B. Liss
North Country Reform Temple,
Glen Cove