Dear Friends,
Is there anything better than autumn in Connecticut? Nature puts on a glorious show for us. Amidst the colorful leaves and cooler temperatures continue to enjoy the out-of-doors together, whether on a Kol Ami hike, Israeli folk dancing with our teens, or singing together with Cantor Boyle in our Religious School Tefilah. Of course, we are all looking forward to re-entering our sanctuary and social hall again in the near future. But more on that in a minute.
This year, autumn also brings us into the holiday of Chanukah. Like the High Holidays, it comes a little bit early this year: we light the first candle the evening of Sunday, November 28. We all know about the bright twinkling lights of the Menorah, the spinning dreidel games, and the irresistible aroma of potato latkes. But there are a few other things about Chanukah that perhaps you did not know. Three of them are especially relevant this year:
First - Chanukah means “Dedication.” The first Chanukah came about following a military victory: an ancient band of Jewish fighters against the Seleucid (‘Greek”) Empire over 2000 years ago. But the name of the holiday comes from a religious symbol: the rededication of the Temple after it was defiled under the orders of King Antiochus. The famous story of the long-lasting oil came on the scene only hundreds of years after the historic dedication of the Temple and its altar. If you want to read more, here’s an entertaining look at the development of this minor holiday.
Second - Chanukah is actually a delayed Sukkot. Yes, you read that correctly! The persecutions of Antiochus made it impossible for the Jews to celebrate this autumn holiday, which was in Temple times the most significant festival on the Jewish calendar. So according to an ancient text called II Maccabees, the Maccabees took up the Lulav and Etrog and celebrated a delayed Sukkot. That’s the first historical answer to the question: why is Chanukah eight days long? The story of eight days of oil first appeared in the Talmud, around 600 years later.
Third - The dedication happened before the work was complete. Speaking of that story, we have all heard the tale of the little cruse of oil that was supposed to last for only one day but instead burned for eight. Remember, this took place in the midst of a war. The setting of that story indicates that the Temple was in shambles during this “dedication.” The holy vessels had been plundered and the altar was covered in un-kosher pig parts. Gross!
And yet — the Maccabees decided to hold their dedication even in the midst of the mess. I hope that we will take this lesson to heart. We won’t have to wait until our own sanctuary feels “finally ready” to appreciate it; to sanctify it; to explore it; and to think of it as ‘home.’ I look forward to seeing you at the TBT campus in days to come. Because even if the work isn’t yet done, we can still gather together in our sacred home. I wish you and your family a beautiful autumn season, and a Happy Chanukah!
L’Shalom,
Rabbi Moss