It’s late at night and I am driving on a very dark road. 

It’s raining, it’s hard to see the way ahead, I have to admit it’s a little scary. 

But there are two lights in front the car. 

There are two red lights which are winking in the darkness and lighting up the way. 

Of course you may say, it’s just another car in the traffic ahead. 

But on a dark night, on a lonely road, those lights are a miracle, paving the way. 

It just takes a little light to dispel the darkness. 

On Sunday night we will begin our celebration of Chanukah, the Festival of Lights. 

We will commemorate a miracle  which took place over 2000 years ago.

The Syrian Greeks were in dominion in the Land of Israel. Their mission was to defile that which was sacred. They tried to absorb Jewish culture into Greek culture. When some Jews resisted, the Greeks went on a rampage and prohibited all forms of Jewish practice and life. The did not allow Torah study, the performance of Brit Mila, the observance of Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh, and keeping kosher, in an attempt to spiritually devastate the Jewish people. 

A small, ragtag band of the Chashmonaim family of  the High Priest led a rebellion against the mighty Greek army. This was the army that was the most powerful in that time. 

The first miracle is the military victory that the few and weak Macabees were able to overcome the overwhelming might of the vast Greek legions. 

When the Jews returned to the Temple for the first time they wanted to light the Menora. The Greeks had desecrated the Temple and there were no pure jars of oil to be found. Finally a cruze of pure, undefined oil was discovered, and the Menora was lit. 

Despite the fact that the only jug of oil found was only enough to burn for one day, it lasted for eight days. 

During the days of Chanukah we say a special prayer called Al Hanisim, a prayer regarding these miracles. 

The prayer speaks of remembering the miracles of those days and in these times. 

We can certainly understand how we remember the miracles of the past, but what are the miracles of these days?

Sivan Rahav Meir, Israeli correspondent and Torah teacher shared a beautiful story. There was an earthquake in Los Angeles and many buildings suffered damage. A young man was in a synagogue during the earthquake and the place was devastated. Tables were turned over, all the books were thrown off the shelves and the synagogue was a wreck. The young man decided to clean up the mess. He worked through the night and by the time the congregation appeared for morning services, the place was in pristine condition. The people were agog. Despite the fact that all the buildings around them had suffered damage, their synagogue escaped unscathed. They were exclaiming over the miracle that had occurred. 

The young man listened to the hubbub with amusement. 

He was about to tell them that he was the one who had cleaned up the mess. 

When he was about to spill the beans and dismiss “the miracle”, he stopped in his tracks. 

They did encounter a miracle there, and the miracle was HIM!

Sivan concludes that we must be the miracle in the lives of the people around us. It may be behind the scenes, we don’t have to make a fuss, but we can create miracles for those we love. 

The lyrics composed by Abie Rothenberg says it best:

All it takes is one small candle, one small, flickering, shining candle - that is all it takes to penetrate the dark”

Chanukah is coming! 

Celebrate it either by looking for the miracles around you, or being the little red lights that illuminate the dark for the person who is that looking to you to light their way. 

Be the miracle!

Happy Chanukah! Chanukah Sameach!

Shabbat Shalom and so much love!