By Meir Mitelman
As we are celebrating Chanukah, I would like to share a few thoughts about the meaning of this festive holiday.
Chanukah commemorates the dramatic victory of the Maccabees following the three-year-long rebellion against the ruling Assyrian-Greek powers who set out to destroy Judaism by forbidding its observance. The courage of the Maccabees to fight for their religious convictions, and their right to practice their Jewish beliefs, continue to be an inspiration.
The revolt culminated with the recapture and purification of the Temple of Jerusalem in 165 B.C.E., and the restoration of its traditional service. (The Hebrew word "Chanukah" means "dedication" and refers to the re-dedication of the Temple after it had been defiled with pagan images and practices.)
In discussing Chanukah, the rabbinic sages emphasized the story about a flask containing a single day's worth of oil that provided light for the newly cleansed Temple not just for that day, but for seven more days until new oil was found to keep the sacred fire burning. This is why we light candles every night for an eight-day celebration.
At another level, one of the important messages about this holiday can speak to all of us in a profound way. Why do we light candles in ascending order every night (one of the first night going up to eight on the last night) instead of descending order?
The ancient rabbinic sages' answer: to teach us that with every day of our lives, we need to do our share to bring more light, fresh hope and renewed spirit into the world. We renew the spirit by treating others with dignity and respect, doing acts of kindness, speaking out when we see injustice, helping to heal the world and in so many other ways.
Another message of Chanukah: one of the wonders of being human is our ability to kindle a tiny spark of hope even if we are on the verge of despair. Chanukah celebrates this miracle, as well as the miracle of the small vile of oil burning for seven extra days.
The miracle of those extra days of light may represent God's intervention during difficult times when we could give up, but courageously choose instead to keep on going.
So, this Chanukah, whether you are Jewish or not, whether you believe in God or not, give yourself a real present: the gift of hope, of renewed spirit even as the night grows darkest in the midst of winter.
Light a candle in your soul, let the flame be a source of strength and inspiration, and share the light with others.
As all of us in the University community celebrate our respective holidays, may the light of this season bring joy, warmth, love, and peace to all of us, to our families and friends, and to people throughout the world.
Rabbi Meir Mitelman is the University Jewish Chaplain and executive director of Hofstra Hillel. You may e-mail him at michael.e.mitelman@hofstra.edu.