Keep your inner light burning

Happy Hanukkah.

It's such a beautiful ceremony. Tonight after sunset, as we near the end of the eight-day Festival of Lights, observant families will light the menorah's seventh candle as they say this blessing in Hebrew:

"Blessed are you, Lord our G-d, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us by his commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the lights of Hanukkah. Blessed are you, Lord our G-d, King of the Universe, Who wrought miracles for our fathers in days of old, at this season."

If you wondered, the vowel is purposely left out of the name; this is a Jewish tradition of respect. In Jewish culture a name is no mere word; it conveys the very nature, the essence of its holder.

The blessings and lighting of candles are acts of dedication. The word "Chanukah" or "Hanukkah" derives from the Hebrew verb, "to dedicate."

What dedication? More than mere physical illumination, it is light of faith. On the surface, the lights symbolize the story of a 2,000-year-old miracle: A temple lamp fed by no more than a day's oil as Maccabean Jews struggled against Ancient Greeks to regain control of Jerusalem. Despite the lack of fuel, the lamp burned for eight more nights. Deeper in the flame of Hanukkah lies the victorious rededication of that relocated, desecrated Second Temple in Jerusalem, sparing the faithful from being forced to worship their conquerors' gods.

Within the core of each candle's flame is the dedication of faith, and of its people's perseverance. Many others like the Maccabees rose up against overwhelming odds - a larger and better armed force violently attempting to eradicate or control a people, religion, or way of life. In that sense the story resonates with North America's own origins and, sadly, too many modern struggles against oppression worldwide.

Hanukkah is about standing up for one's convictions.

Each of the evenly spaced and leveled candles of the menorah (except the Shamash, the central ninth candle which lights the others and may be higher), known in Hebrew as the "hanukiah," is relit nightly. Inspiring window displays of the menorah remind others of the miracle. The candles are left burning until they go out on their own, like the original Hanukiah.

"Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, men cannot live without a spiritual life." - Gautama Buddha

Sholeh Patrick is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network. Contact her at [email protected].