Chanukah – Light Unto the Nations

(Published in The Outreach, December 2005)
The Outreach is the newsletter of Valley Outreach Synagogue, Reseda, California
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The prophet Isaiah challenged the Jewish people to become Or Lagoyim – a light unto the nations. It was a mighty call and one that came to characterize our ethical goal as a people. Each Chanukah, we literally add light to the world with the kindling of candles. True, we light many candles throughout the religious year but unique to Chanukah is the fact that on this holiday we add light to the world cumulatively - every evening renewing the light of yesterday and increasing it with the light of the present day. We build on the light of our past until the entire menorah is aglow. What a model for living. This simple Chanukah ritual can teach us that it is every generation's duty to add to the light that their predecessors brought into the world rather than to merely maintain it, or tragically, to allow it to be extinguished.

The traditional second Chanukah blessing which is recited after the blessing over the candles reads, "Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech Haolam she'asah nisim la'avoteinu bayamim hahem bazman haze… Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who accomplished miracles for our ancestors in ancient days, at this time." It reminds us of miracles that took place in this season in times past. But in a little known change contemporary Reform and Conservative siddurim (prayer books) completely turned this blessing on its head, with the addition of one letter. Using the wording found in a prayer book of Rav Amram Gaon, written well over 1,000 years ago, the revised siddur offers a different version of this second Hanukkah blessing than the one we are used to singing. It reads, "Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech haolam sheasah nisim la'avoteinu bayamim hahem u'vazman haze… Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who accomplished miracles for our ancestors in ancient days, and in our time."

The single Hebrew letter impresses upon us that Chanukah is present and relevant. Perhaps in some homes it is a celebration of the miracle of united family or of renewed health. In others it is recognition of the precious miracle of extraordinary relationships and blessed experiences. In the ancient story of the Maccabbees and in our own life stories, miracles are born of God's gifts and our efforts. The fact that God imbues each of us with the power to live miraculously is ample cause for awe and celebration.