By Rabbi Ezra Weinberg
dream away from being solved. The “Nes” might serve as a warning that disaster is approaching and ask us if we are prepared.
The central act of Hanukkah today is lighting candles. Jews light Hanukkah candles everywhere. It’s one of the most celebrated rituals. In fact, it is possible that more candles are lit during the eight days of Hanukkah around the world than probably all the candles lit on Shabbat candles world wide over the course of one year. So if there are so many Jews lighting candles on Hanukkah, it’s fair to ask why are we so compelled to do so? Hanukkah is not considered a major Jewish holiday, so what compels such widespread observance, particularly lighting candles? As with most questions Jewish, there is no one answer. But one important answer comes from the Talmud (Tractate Shabbat 21b). The rabbis basically say that the spiritual goal of lighting the Hannukiah is to fulfill he mitzvah of “pirsume nisa,” Aramaic for “publicizing the miracle.” And in this context, nes means miracle, but it’s actually a synthesis of the two definitions. By obligating ourselves to publicize the miracle, we are making a banner of the miracle. We are holding up the miracle of Hanukkah for all to see. The lights on our chanukkiah are symbolic reminders of that miracles back then happened AND they can happen today - Ba’Yamim Hahem, Bazman Hazeh, which is the second blessing of Hanukkah. That we aren’t just publicizing the ancient miracles of Hanukkah, but that we are also publicizing the miracles of our generation and the potential miracles in the near future. And we need a few miracles now more than ever.
Recalling ancient miracles is not done simply for nostalgic purposes. The Torah is a living document and this week's parsha is no different. Through Joseph’s interpretations of Pharoah’s dreams and the subsequent actions that follow, Parshat Miketz demonstrates the delicate relationship between miracles and human action. Just as Egypt so narrowly averted
human catastrophe at the hands of famine and drought, the Torah reminds us that our relationship to the earth must never be taken for granted. Our fortunes can change very quickly.
The Hanukkah lenses can help us appreciate the miracles we have, but also encourage us to yearn for the miracles we need. Perhaps that is one of the hidden meanings of Hanukkah. We broadcast the possibility for new miracles when we publicize the ancient ones.
If you could broadcast any miracle this Hanukkah, what would it be?