Happy Chanukah! חנוכה שמח! I have some thoughts to share about this holiday of light, but first I want to clarify something from the weekly email – I will be away this Shabbat so there will be no formal Torah study. Services will begin at 10 AM, as usual.

We often describe Chanukah (as I just did) as the festival of lights, חג אורים in Hebrew. It is also, of course, a holiday of miracles. When we talk about Chanukah, that’s where we place our focus. There’s the miracle of the military victory of the Maccabees against the Syrian Greeks, the small Jewish band of soldiers prevailing over the mighty army they were fighting. Most prominently, we talk about the miracle of the pure oil found in the desecrated Temple, which then burned for 8 days as that Temple was rededicated for regular use. 

Both of these miracles fit in perfectly with our general concept of miracles. They were public and had a major impact on the people who witnessed them. They went against the normal order of the world and were, in part, beyond the laws of nature altogether. They were easily attributed to God – since they were outside the bounds of rational explanation, it could only have been God orchestrating these miracles. 

This view of miracles is how we look at many pieces of our biblical history and religious tradition: the great flood, the Passover story, God’s revelation at Sinai, and so on. However, it is not the only (nor would I say the most prominent) view of miracles that Judaism holds.  

Every day, three times a day, we have the opportunity to say the Amidah as part of our prayers. This collection of blessings is the pinnacle of our services; it is where we express our deepest wishes for the world, for our community, and for our individual lives. And the concluding section of the Amidah always begins in the exact same way, with a blessing of acknowledgment and thanks to God. Beginning with the Hebrew words מודים אנחנו לך (modim anaḥnu lakh), we are grateful to you, the blessing reads: 

“We are grateful to You that You are Adonai our God and the God of our ancestors forever. Rock of our lives, You are the shield of our salvation in every generation. We will give thanks to You and speak Your praises for our lives that are in Your hand, for our souls that are entrusted to You, for Your miracles that are with us every day, and for your wonders and beneficence at all times, evening, morning, and noon…”

“Miracles that are with us every day” – this is a very different viewpoint from the understanding of miracles that I first shared. And we say this three times per day (sometimes more), every day. It would seem that this idea of miracles, the ones that are with us at all times, is the one our tradition prefers. 

That prompts us to ask: what are these everyday miracles?

While I don’t have a definitive answer to this question, I see this kind of miracle most in the way we come together. This kind of miracle appears when we reach out to someone in need, letting them know that we care and are there for them when they need us. It’s there when we find new insight, whether that’s about a topic of study or deeply within ourselves. I feel it in the synergy of a group of friends, a family, or a community, doing something meaningful together.

Chanukah is also a holiday of gathering and unity. The purpose of lighting candles on this holiday is pirsumei nisa, sharing the miracle. Our lights are meant to be seen by others, connecting all who pass by our windows to the celebration. We often come together with family and friends to light our ḥanukkiyot, share gifts and songs, and eat holiday treats. 

Our Chevrei Tzedek community also has such a tradition. This year, we’ll be celebrating together after services this Shabbat. Please join us for a festive Kiddush lunch, singing, games, and a celebration of the miracles in our daily lives. We’ll be hearing from Pam Mandell’s father, Ira Mandell, about his own personal story of miracles. I hope you’ll be there!

The year’s Chanukah tragically began with an act of terror and antisemitism, with 15 people killed in the attack on a Chanukah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney. We are shocked and devastated at this awful act of hatred and violence. We send our prayers for healing to those who were injured and our prayers for comfort to the families of those who were killed. And we can also be part of the miracles that are with us every day, by offering our help to the Australian Jewish community in the aftermath of this horrific attack. 

The Bondi Beach Terror Attack Emergency Relief Appeal has been established by a number of Australian Jewish agencies to provide care and support to those in the community who need it most. This fund will support mental healthcare, crisis assistance, medical care, rehabilitation, and urgent financial support. You can donate to this fund here. In addition, Support Sydney, a fund established by a group of Sydney rabbis, will provide support to all those killed and injured in the attack. Gifts can be made through https://www.charidy.com/supportsydney. 

Especially during this Chanukah, we can enhance our celebration of the ancient miracles of this holiday by increasing our awareness of – and our participation in – the miracles that are with us every day. 

Shabbat shalom and happy Chanukah!