D'VAR TORAH
Numbers 7:1-8:4
A text study on the evolution of Hanukkah. What is the miracle, and what is the light?
Hanukkah
Hanukka is a relatively new holiday. It developed in the post-Biblical period, after the successful rebellion in 169-166 CE against the religious persecutions of King Antiochus IV. The rabbis of the Talmud later wove together extra-biblical stories of the victory with a narrative of miraculous intervention, signified by the miracle of the oil which lasted eight nights rather than one. Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan used Hanukka as an example of the importance of religious ideals in a civilization’s survival and success. Even though the Maccabees might have thought that God gave them the victory, Kaplan asserted that it was “their devotion to the service of their God that gave significance to their victory and made the memory of it worth preserving.”1
- 1. Adapted from A Guide to Jewish Practice, Volume 2—Shabbat and Holidays
Related Resources
D'VAR TORAH
Numbers 7:1-8:4
Sources, ancient and modern, on the nature of the light of Hanukkah
Rabbi Yael Ridberg writes: It is no secret that much of the world can’t wait for 2020 to end. The compounded losses brought to us by the COVID-19 pandemic have penetrated every layer of our existence, and hope and joy have been elusive and fleeting. As we approach the darkest days of the year, we also anticipate holidays of light that we need so badly. We have been searching for miracles all year: an end to the suffering, to be able to embrace one another again, and to gather without concern. This week Jews all over the world will light the eight-branch Hanukkah candelabra to remember and celebrate the unexpected miracles found in the depths of despair.
An email discussion between educators about teaching Hanukkah and the implications of different approaches.
An empowering retelling of the Hanukkah story that emphasizes theology and remembering rather than miracles or military might.
D'VAR TORAH
Numbers 7:1-8:4
This revision of a familiar Hanukkah song was published in the 1945 Reconstructionist siddur. The original text was amended to address ethical concerns raised by Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan.
Writing from Israeli during a tense period, Adina Newberg reflects on Hanukkah's imagery of light in the darkness.
