Hanukkah is the Hebrew word for dedication.
It was the 4th century AD, in the aftermath of Alexander the Great’s conquest and subsequent occupation and forced assimilation of the Jewish People. Ruin had been laid to the Jews throughout Jerusalem and surrounding areas. Most importantly, the Greek army had defiled the Temple of Mt Zion; the supposed site where God gathered the dust of Mother Earth to create Adam. Finally, the People had enough and a guerrilla-style “Revolt of the Maccabees” began, lasting for 3 years until they finally secured victories that opened the road to Jerusalem, where the desecrated Temple was.
So, as the People re-dedicated their Temple to the service of the Jewish, their cleansing gave rise to the modern tradition.
As the story goes, the People found only 1 small, unsoiled store of oil left in their Temple. This small amount miraculously ended up burning for 8 days, long enough to consecrate a new batch of oil. Now the practicing Jewish celebrate the miracle by lighting candles (and giving gifts as a more modern tradition) each of the 8 days. It marks the illumination of the re-dedication of the Temple of Mt Zion to the Jewish People.
It is an interesting concept to think we echo the calls shouted thousands of years before us through our traditions today, especially given the turbulent times we see now. It is interesting also that metaphorically, this is the concept of shedding light on “re-dedication” to that which is sacred. Though its history is marked by violence, there is always an option to purify and turn toward the light.
One of my favorite symbols of the Jewish faith is the Merkabah. Made of 2 triangles pointing upward and downward, it is a symbol of balance between the masculine and feminine energies. Perhaps when there is greater balance of energy in the world, we will see more illuminated times.
See what Jesus has to say about the spirit of illumination in our book The Word 2.0
Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-he-nu
Me-lech ha-olam a-sher ki-de-sha-nu
be-mitz-vo-tav ve-tzi-va-nu le-had-lik
ner Cha-nu-kah
Blessings unto thee,
Sonya
