Rabbi's Musings

Chanukah begins soon and the night certainly feels dark. Can we celebrate Chanukah during this horrific war? Where is the miracle of the light? Too much death and suffering. And yet it is precisely when the night is darkest — short days and small moon — when we need a season of light and hope. We can hope that, as the prophet says this week in our portion, God will prevail not by might, not by power, but by spirit. Of course, these days the Jewish people well know we also need the might and the power, lest we be wiped out. So how do we find a balance between the spiritual and the militant? Teddy Roosevelt said, “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” Israel as a country has a big stick. And it can speak softly, as long as deterrence is on the table.

From far away, we can continue to reach out to our Israeli brothers and sisters and let them know we care. We can send aid. We can make sure our U.S. government knows how important this fight is and how Israel must win. And we can remember that the lighting of the Chanukah candle in the dark night is the ultimate symbol of the Jewish spirit. As the Maccabees learned, there are times to fight and times for peace. But hope is never out of season.
 
For an update on the situation in Israel please join Mike Hollander, a Jewish educator/tour guide in Israel, for a Zoom session this Sunday at 10:30 a.m.