From the Rabbi - December 2004

I'm writing this article on November 2nd. This means two things:

- My article is late (I'm supposed to have it in on the first day of each month)
- I voted today.

By the time you read this, we will (hopefully) know the results of this year's presidential election. The last time we voted for president, we didn't have a winner for several weeks.

Whatever the outcome of this election, I'm afraid that the bitterness that preceded it will not fade away with the final ballot count. On Rosh Hashanah I spoke of my concerns about how our nation was becoming increasingly polarized. I also said that one of the gifts that Judaism has to offer our country is the ability to live with diverse opinions and to find compromise in just about any situation. This is a gift that we need today more than ever.

December 7th is the first candle of Chanukah. This joyous festival reminds us of many things: light in the midst of darkness; the victory of good over evil; the reality and importance of miracles in our lives. But there is another, perhaps darker, aspect of the Chanukah story that is often overlooked. Most scholars agree that the story of Chanukah with which most of us are familiar is, at best, only half of what really happened. The true story of Chanukah has more to do with internal conflict than with oil and miracles.

You see, the Maccabees did not only fight against the Antiochus and the Hellenized Assyrians who desecrated the Temple. Their fight was also, in great part, against Hellenized Jews. Following the Maccabean victory, the factionalism and divisions within Jewish society were huge. The festival of Chanukah was created, in no small way, to help the Jewish people heal the rifts created by civil war.

This is one of the reasons why the Chanukah menorah has always been such an important symbol throughout history. It is no less important today. Our task, in the aftermath of this election, is to view the candles burning brightly in our menorot as beacons of hope and healing. Each candle sheds a separate light, yet together they serve to bring warmth and joy into our homes and our hearts. While we, as a nation, may differ on social and political issues, we are united in our love of country, community, and the values upon which our nation was founded. There is still a great deal of work to be done to make our world more complete. May we learn to see the light of the Chanukah Menorah as a symbol of all that is good in our society.

Sue, Elana and Ethan join me in wishing you a Chag Urim Sameach - a joyous and happy festival of lights.

B'shalom V'yididut,
Rabbi Joseph R. Black

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