A Word From The Rabbi
Dear Friend,
What a wonderful start of Chanukah celebrations!
Ordinarily, the routine of our day-to-day existence suggests that life is predictable, that events take place according to a natural order, a chain of cause and effect. We may not readily recognize that even "natural" phenomena are, in essence, evidence of the miraculous hand of G‑d, until our hearts are stirred by a beautiful sunset, or a glimpse of wildflowers in bloom...
But there is another sort of miracle: an event so striking, so far beyond rational explanation, that we cannot help but recognize it as miraculous. This is the kind of miracle that Chanukah calls to mind.
When one day's supply of oil lasts eight full days, we sit up and take notice. When an ill-equipped handful of Maccabees succeed in vanquishing all the assembled forces of a mighty imperial oppressor, we realize that nothing is impossible for G‑d.
The lights of the Chanukah menorah are more than simply a reminder of ancient miracles, they are meant to provide inspiration and illumination in our contemporary daily lives. In fact, in a very real sense, the Chanukah miracles of old are re-enacted in our observance today. That is one reason why we say, in the second blessing recited over the Chanukah lights, "...Blessed are You... who wrought miracles for our ancestors, in those days, **at this time**." By reflecting upon the significance of the Chanukah miracles, we can see, with ever-increasing clarity, the miraculous dimension of events in our own time.
Wishing you a successful week and a Happy Chanukah!
Rabbi Yudy Shemtov
Senior Rabbi/Executive Director