Understanding and Faith

Rabbi Irwin Wiener, D.D.


Around this time each year we agonize over Hanukkah and Christmas. The greatest anxiety deals with whether these are truly religious holidays or the invention of merchants designed to encourage us to spend – spend – spend. Our celebrations have become a test of commercial endurance.

Christians claim that Jesus is no longer the central thought of the holiday and Jews decry the importance given to Hanukkah because of its proximity to Christmas.

First, allow me to address the concerns of our Christian neighbors and friends: No one can take the significance of the holiday away from you – only you can do that. How much emphasis is put into the giving and receiving instead of the message was not invented by others. Some non-Christians even complain when someone says “Merry Christmas” to them, knowing full well that they don’t celebrate the holiday. I suggest that it is a greeting of happiness and expectation – the willingness to share their joy with others and is not intended to insult but rather include them in the spirit of grace and gratitude.

Second, the Jewish commemoration of Hanukkah has developed into a contest. Presents and decorations are the order of the day, not the significance of the first episode in recorded history where people fought for their religious freedom. The lights on the Menorah are to remind us of the light offered us by God to live in peace and share that moment of redemption so that others can be what they want, do what they want, pray as they want and believe as they want.

So each year the dilemma of the holidays especially in interfaith households dominates the need for identification. There is the desire to show sensitivity and respect but there is a strong feeling of emptiness because the true meaning of the holidays are lost in the tangled web of evenness. One holiday should not be celebrated more than the other so not to offend. The explanation to children becomes difficult because they seem to feel the tension and confusion.

Everyone forgets that there is a connection between the two holidays other than the time of the year. The relationship can be found in one word: Light.

Christmas is a time of lights whether on a tree or in the decorations or the luminaries found on walkways that are designed to lead Christians to the path of birth and redemption. Forget that this is the darkest time of the year so the lights are there to illuminate our path thus avoiding the dark places of despair. While that may sound good and perhaps was the original intent of the lights, it has come to signify more and we should all respect the need for spiritual guidance that the lights are designed to enhance.
Hanukkah too is a time of lights. We all know the story of the one cruise of oil found in the Temple in Jerusalem when the Maccabees defeated the Syrian-Greek army and rushed to cleanse the Temple of all the defilement. The Menorah which was the symbol of the eternalness of God because the flame was never extinguished and is replicated today by the Eternal Light found over the Ark of the Covenant containing the Holy Scriptures, the Torah, needed oil to burn. The Talmud tells us that there was only enough oil for one night and it took eight days to purify and produce the oil and miracle of miracles, it lasted the eight days until new oil could be manufactured.

It doesn’t matter whether you believe the story or even if it is true, what does matter is what the story signifies to us and to all humanity: that the light of truth and dignity and freedom cannot be extinguished as long as we believe in the sanctify of life.

The religious freedom that was won 2400 years ago has been the light for all generations whether it be a light in the sky signifying a birth or a light in a mind bringing the message of salvation or a light on a table allowing us to feel free to read what we wish and understand the wishes and dreams of others.

Many things have happened throughout the course of history that should not be repeated. Many things have also happened throughout history which do need repeating and are lost in the hate and bigotry that cause the lights to go out. This time of the year should remind us of the eternal struggle of good and evil. We visit our respective houses of worship and pray for goodness to survive, for evil to be eradicated.

The lights are there to remind us that God cannot do this for us. He is lighting the way for us to do these things for ourselves. This is the message of Christmas. This is the message of Hanukkah. We need to allow the lights of the season to guide us in the path of survival. We all need the light – we all need each other.

To my Christian friends, it is my pleasure to say to you – “Merry Christmas.” To each other, it is an honor to say – “Happy Hanukkah.” Our prayer should be whether Jew of Gentile, whether Christmas or Hanukkah celebrant, that we use the lights – the common lights – to teach us true brotherhood and friendship.

AMEN