Channukah Musings 2019 – By Anna Bergson
As we become accustomed to the short, cold and dark days that winter brings, we know Channukah is around the corner to bring a little light into the darkness.
Almost twenty years ago we had the amazing experience of living in the Old City of Jerusalem for a year whilst my husband completed his Rabbinical studies.
I will never forget Channukah in the Old City.
Walking down the stone pebbled narrow streets you can almost hear those old stones cry out a long, troubled but triumphant history of our people.
On Channukah this silent story is even more palpable.
We are taught we should light our Channukah Menoras outside our doorway as a reminder to passers-by of the miracle of Channukah.
Many of the modest Jewish homes in the Old City have ledges carved into the stones by their doorways….I don’t know if these were incorporated all those hundreds of years ago specifically for this mitzvah.
But walking through these streets on a Channukah evening, seeing tens of Menoras with olive oil and wicks flickering an orange glow is profoundly spiritual and magical.
Children would be huddled in tight circles playing dreidel next to their family Menora, safe and secure.
One cannot help but feel proud and humbled to be a part of this Jewish story…a people who have been persecuted throughout the ages, and yet with supernatural strength we have been able to fight back and shine on.
This year we have been anxious as Jews in the UK what the political climate would bring. It was very feasible a man with as much anti-semitic trite as Antiochus in the Channukah story could come to power. We prayed and joined together as a people waiting for the outcome….and Baruch Hashem! A true modern Channukah miracle!
The fact that the Jewish people, less than 1% of the population should illicit such attention and promise of protection by our political leaders is a clear sign that Hashem is looking after us. That we are fulfilling His expectations to be a ‘light to the nations’. We have a moral code to teach the world.
After witnessing these events first hand ourselves just a few days before Channukah, we should be full of gratitude, inspiration, renewed faith and Jewish pride when we light our Menoras this year.
May the fire of Torah, of our living Jewish story bring light, strength and peace to all of us this Channukah!