Be a modern Maccabee

 Prior to the American Civil War, fugitive slaves found freedom by following the Underground Railroad, a term for the secret routes from the South to the North and the abolitionists who helped them along the way. Slaves would travel at night for many miles, keeping on track by following the light of the “Drinking Gourd.” This was a code name for the collection of stars known as the Big Dipper, which points to the North Star. Some believe the fugitives also used encoded directions in the lyrics of the song “Follow the Drinking Gourd” to keep them from getting lost as they traveled.

Both the abolitionists and the “drinking gourd” served as points of light directing the slaves to freedom. Hanukkah is our holiday of religious freedom. The Maccabbees fought for our right to worship God as directed by the Torah when Antiochus forbad it. Our hanukkia, the 8-branch candelabra lights our homes in order to inspire us to join the fight for religious freedom and tolerance today.

Since the beginning of the October 7  Simkhat Torah war in Gaza, all over our country anti-Semitism has dramatically increased. The Times of Israel reports “The NYPD reported 69 antisemitic hate crimes in October, marking a major increase in anti-Jewish incidents in the city following Hamas’s October 7 invasion and slaughter of some 1,400 people in southern Israel, and Israel’s ensuing war against the terror group in Gaza. The number of antisemitic crimes in October marked a 214 percent increase over the same month last year, according to police data released on Wednesday.” (https://www.timesofisrael.com/as-antisemitism-surges-nypd-reports-69-hate-crimes-against-jews-in-october/)

Just like our Maccabbee ancestors, we are still on the front lines fighting for redemption and spiritual liberation for us and all the citizens of the United States. Hanukkah reminds us to be brave and proud to be Jews. Davka this year more than before, we must place our hannukiyot in our windows to shine light in all those dark corners of our country and to point the way towards truth, justice, and the American way so that all may enjoy life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

 Shabbat shalom and happy Hanukkah,

Rabbi Greene 

Hanukkah begins Thursday night. 

How to light the Hanukkah candles

According to Jewish tradition, after the Maccabees’ victory over the Greeks, there was only enough oil to burn for one day in the Temple. Miraculously the oil burned for eight days. Lighting the Hanukkah menorah commemorates this miracle.

Step 1: Know Your Timing You’re supposed to light the menorah just after dark each night of Hanukkah. (However, many families wait until everyone is home together, and light it then.) On Fridays, the menorah is lit before dark to avoid lighting on Shabbat.

Step 2: Find Its Spot The menorah is meant to spread light to others and is traditionally placed in a window, on a table or outside your door. (Just make sure it is far from active kids and flammable materials.)

Step 3: Light the Shamash The candle that is raised or in the center of the menorah is the shamash (helper candle). It’s the one you use to light the other candles. Light it first. (Don’t use any of the other candles to light the others.)

Step 4: Say the Hanukkah Blessing You recite the Hanukkah blessing now, once the shamash is lit but before you light any other candles.

Step 5: Light Right to Left, but Left to Right There are eight candles to light. On the first night of Hanukkah, place a candle in the holder on the far right, and light it with the shamash. Then put the shamash back in its spot (leaving it lit). On the second night, light the candle second from the right, then the candle on the far right, and replace the lit shamash. You’ll repeat this pattern for each night of Hanukkah, always lighting the newest candle first. On the eighth night, you’ll be lighting all of the candles, starting at the far left.

Here's a link for the Hanukkah blessing recited before lighting the candles: https://pjlibrary.org/beyond-books/pjblog/november-2020/how-to-light-the-hanukkah-candles#:~:text=Each%20night%2C%20add%20a%20new,%2C%20that's%20how%20you%20light!%22