SAN DIEGO – There are two miracles in the story of Chanukah, Rebbetzin Chaya Andrusier of Chabad of East County stated during a “Torah and Tea” discussion on Thursday, Dec. 5. The first was the military victory of the Maccabees who gathered up volunteers to defeat against the Syrian Greeks who wished to impose their Hellenist religion on the Jews.
The Maccabees are said to have mainly rocks while the Hellenists had a more sophisticated army with ammunition and swords. The Maccabees chased out the Greeks and restored the Jewish religion to the land.
The second miracle occurred when the Maccabees searched the Temple and found a jug of oil that was not defiled and had the seal of the high priest, the Kohen Gadol, Andrusier lectured. That jug of oil was added to the menorah, and it stayed lit for 8 days.
Andrusier asked, “Why do we celebrate Chanukah?” Is it because we won the battle or because of the oil?
She said if we were to celebrate the fact that the Jewish people won, we would have a holiday every day. Throughout Jewish history, there have been many wars and victories. So, it makes more sense that the real miracle of Chanukah and the cause to celebrate is based on the miracle of the oil.
Another miracle involving oil was when the prophet Obadiah passed away and left his wife and son with many debts to repay, the rebbetzin taught. The widow went to the prophet Elisha to ask what she could do. The prophet Elisha asked the widow, “What do you have?” She replied she had a little jug of oil. Elisha told the widow to go and borrow every vessel in town. When she completed the task, she asked the prophet, “Now what?” The prophet told her to fill all the vessels with the one jug of oil she had. Lo and behold, all the vessels were filled from her one jug of oil, enabling her to pay off her debts.
Another story involves Rabbi Hanina ben Dosa who was a Greek sage. His wife came to him ruing the fact that they didn’t have enough money to purchase oil for the lighting of the Shabbat candles. The Rabbi told his wife to use vinegar. Lo and behold, another miracle surrounding the light.
When we celebrate modern Americanized Chanukah, we have presents, light candles, sing songs, eat latkes and sufganiyot but how can we make Chanukah more sacred? Andrusier asked.
A Hassidic discourse mentions that when you squeeze an olive, oil comes out. If you can relate this to the Jewish people, when we start seeing Am Israel Chai banners and chants, it is because we are being “squeezed” and there is trouble in society.
As the Chanukah holiday is approaching–it begins at nightfall December 25– we are feeling “squeezed.” To make Chanukah more holy, all of us in attendance prayed for the safe return of the hostages, the safety of the IDF soldiers defending Israel, and God willing, the arrival of Moshiach (the Messiah).
Click here to rsvp for the next “Torah and Tea” at noon, on Thursday, January 9.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.