Chanukah is one of my favorite Holidays of the year and it is a Holiday that is full of abundant special moments and memories. Chanukah makes me think back to my days as a child in London when we would go to a huge outdoor Chanukah Celebration that included a thirty foot Menorah, thousands of revelers who celebrated and danced in the streets. It reminds me of when we participated in a parade that included cars with Menorahs fitted on top that paraded through the streets of London and took a ride near Buckingham Palace (before Kate Middleton was around). Chanukah reminds me of many awesome Chanukah celebrations that we had as a family as we lit the Menorah together each night of Chanukah as we were growing up.
Chanukah also reminds me of my two Chanukah visits to Cuba, where we brought in some two hundred Menorah kits and tons of Chanukah treats for the Jewish community. We lit the exact same Menorahs as Jews all over the world were lighting and had some 150 locals and tourists from around the world join us for a happy and moving Chanukah Celebration of religious freedom in Havana, Cuba.
Chanukah makes me think of my first visit to Israel, which happened to be on Chanukah. As we walked into Ben Gurion Airport after we got off the plane, we walked through passport controls and met Chabad Volunteers who were giving out donuts to every passenger who was not on a diet. Of course being in Israel for Chanukah is an experience that is unmatched to anywhere else in the world, since as you walk the streets you see thousands of Menorah’s in every window and door and see Chanukah celebrated in such a tangible way.
I have celebrated Chanukah in England, Israel, Venezuela, New York, Massachusetts and many other places, but the beauty and uniqueness of Chanukah transcends the different places and communities, and wherever you go, you will find the same Chanukah joy and beauty. Chanukah brings out a Jewish pride and excitement that is probably unmatched by any other holiday, and is perhaps one of the most uniting moments in the Jewish experience each year.
Chanukah celebrates the miracle of the olive oil, when oil that was supposed to last for just one day lasted instead for a full eight days. Olive Oil takes a lot of work to produce, and the Olives need to be crushed to bring out the oil that we then use to bring light. Olive Oil symbolizes the light of the Jewish people that always rises to the top and prevails, that has the ability to outlive its expectations and limitations, that brings light and warmth to the world, and dispels darkness through adding light.
Tomorrow evening and we begin Chanukah, let us celebrate together with our families and community to bring light to the world around us, to add in abundant joy, to add in good deeds, and to share our pride and spiritual heritage in a joyful and meaningful way.
Happy Chanukah & Good Shabbos
See you all on Tuesday evening at the Sudbury Chanukah Celebration