by Rabbi Josh Knobel
Like so many other aspects of Jewish tradition, the origins of Hanukkah remain so far removed from our existing practices as to render a celebration faithful to its history nearly impossible. After all, with its celebration of the Maccabean revolt against the Greeks, Hanukkah teaches us to have faith in ourselves to overcome any obstacle. However, with its tale of the oil that lasted eight days, Hanukkah also teaches us to have faith that God will provide when we cannot.
Meanwhile, by condemning Antiochus V, the Syrian-Greek governor who outlawed several Jewish rites, Hanukkah celebrates the triumph of religious freedom over persecution. But by condemning the Hellenistic Jews who, faced with traditionalist opposition, sought Syrian-Greek aid, Hanukkah also celebrates the triumph of fundamentalism over those who believed they could balance their commitments to Judaism with modern, foreign customs.
Perhaps no tale of Hanukkah, then, is as illuminating as the tales that focus less upon the historical origins of the festival and more upon its traditions. When faced with the debate between Hillel and Shammai about how to light the Menorah, the Talmudic sages concluded that Hillel’s practice of adding one flame each day, rather than Shammai’s practice of removing a flame each day, should become Jewish convention.
Though Shammai’s practice appeared more historically grounded (modeled after the number of sacrifices offered on successive days of Sukkot), Hillel’s practice stemmed from a judgement – that we should increase in holiness and never decrease. The decision implies that while we must remain mindful of history in our pursuit of meaningful Jewish lives, history isn’t everything. Sometimes, our values change, and so, too, must our practices. Though the origins of Hanukkah remain fraught with paradoxical hazards, our celebrations can imbue the Festival of Lights with meaning appropriate for our days – as long as we’re willing to listen to our values.