By Rabbi Eli Friedman
This year, we are not letting Chanukah go just like that. It was too good, too necessary and too soothing to have it just last eight days and go. We need the miracle to last a little longer this year.
So, a little bit more about Chanukah.
Chanukah features, of course, the Chanukah Menorah. Others call it a Chanukiah, but whatever you call it, it has eight lights and a ninth one called the Shamash. It is lit to commemorate the famous miracle that took place during the story of Chanukah.
That miracle also took place on a Menorah. Only it was the original Menorah, the grand, golden Menorah which was lit each day in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
Each of the seven branches on the Menorah in the Holy Temple was lit every night of the year, to last all night. Since not every night is the same length, they put in enough oil to last through the month of Tevet - the longest nights of the year. The candles burned through the darkest dead of the winter.
An olive alone is just an olive - but when squeezed, it produces a treasure: olive oil. We Jews are the same way. A Jew is a Jew - until the most harrowing circumstances. When squeezed, the inner treasure of a Jew - his G-dliness, comes out.
Our enemies repeatedly attack us, hoping to crush us. And every time, we come out stronger than ever before. Right now, we are going through a ‘dark winter’. The Jewish people are at war. Jews feel lost, as if we are stuck in this long winter.
Along comes the Torah and reminds us gently, "Enough to last through the longest nights of Tevet." You're going to make it. You'll survive this too. Your light will not go out. Until this long night is over, you will keep glowing. You may be shocked at the depth of your own inner strength but there it is. No night is too long for you and no cold is too cold for you.
During the year, we may not recognize the excess oil. But it is there, within each of us, coming out now. Our enemies try to destroy us, but we will prevail. Our light will last through this bitter winter.
Our enemies have set our souls ablaze - and we are burning down their towers, their dreams, their plans for destruction. We will triumph; overcome this darkness.
And in the end, we will come out stronger than ever before. Anew, with more strength and pride than ever before. Am Yisrael Chai!
