In our previous post we discussed the Hanukkah parallels to the first theme of Christmas associated with Tumnus' statement that the White Witch has made it "Always winter and never Christmas." In this post we turn to the second Christmas theme highlighted by this description and demonstrate its parallels to Hanukkah.
Our second theme centered on the connection between Christmas and the winter solstice. We already saw that the Talmud posits ancient holidays celebrated by Adam around the solstice, does Hanukkah in any way connect to these or does it independently connect to the winter solstice? The Maharal of Prague clearly states that the answer is yes. He quotes the midrashic idea that the Tabernacle in the desert was actually completed on the 25th of Kislev. The symbolism of that, he asserts, is because that is the time when light starts to increase in the world. Pre-solstice darkness overwhelms the light. It is on Hanukkah when the light begins to grow stronger. Thus, it is not a coincidence that the miracle of the menorah happened at this time.
Not surprisingly there is a strong emphasis on the theme of light surrounding Hanukkah. The miracle of the Hasmoneans’ eventual victory over the Seleucidian army was undeniable but short lived from a global history perspective. Rome would soon conquer all. The miracle of the candles, however, is both timeless and universal. What was the message of the miracle to the Hasmoneans? The rededication of the Temple did not mark the end of the war. It took a few years and the death of Judah Macabee himself before Judea’s independence was sealed. The miracle of candles showed that things were improving, that the light was increasing. The Temple was now functioning and Jewish religion could be practiced. There was still plenty of darkness but the worst had passed. Rock bottom was now behind them and there was now only one direction to go.
R’ Soloveitchik, quoted by R’ A. Frimer, asserts that bringing light into the darkness of the world is a fulfillment of the verse “And you shall walk in His ways,” (Deut. 28:9) which commands us to imitate G-d – imitatio Dei - and follow in his ways. At the start of creation God was surrounded by darkness and declared: “Let there be light.” On Hanukkah we are surrounded by the darkness of the solstice and we bring small little lights into the world. They are not the huge Christmas displays of our neighbors because they are not meant to signal victory. But they are put in our windows to remind the world that, when relying on God and fighting for His glory, there is a rock bottom, darkness will not remain forever, and that hope springs eternal.
Happy Hanukkah!
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