Preparing For Hanukkah

Sunday, December 2, 200712:35:00 PM EST

Feeling: Quiet

Hearing: Cross Talk

The house is almost clean and I have to run out for a bit. Then I will come back home to prepare for Hanukkah.
Hanukkah holds a special meaning for me this year.

It is a quiet Hanukkah, one that causes much reflection.

During those days of old, there was a nation that captured our land Isreal, our Hebrew people. The aim of their king wasn't live and let live, but to wipe us out as a people. We were denied our place of worship, our scriptures, languge. Our Holy Days were outlawed. Teaching our children their Alphabet was outlawed and punishable not only by the death of the parnet, but the child as well. We will being forced by the threat of death to deny the G-d of Abraham, Issac and Jacob.

Finally, a small band of Jews, starting with a priestly family, rose up and said "enough is enough." One year into the battle, the leader died and his son, Judah, stood up as the leader .
Judah left behind his beloved, Mrs. Judah waiting for him at home.

A priest wife, she knew how to pray and in my mind's eye, I see Mrs. Judah, standing at the window, like Daniel of old, praying for her husband, for the men he led, trusting G-d to protest the troops and bring victory. At night, she lit the oil lamp, awaiting his return home.
And after years of war, he and his army, drove that enemy out and reclaimed our land, our Temple, our faith. The Holy Place had been defiled by pig's blood and needed to be cleased. And there was only enough oil to light the Menorah for one day. It would take days for more to arrive. The miracle? The oil lasted eight days. And thrus the miracle of the Oil that we celebrate today.
Today, there is another enemy that whichs to wipe us off the face of the earth. There are people who wish to once again kill every Jewish man, woman and child. To outlaw our places of worship, our scriptures. That would make us deny the G-d of Abraham, Issac and Jacob. There are people who would love nothing more that Jews, Christians and these Untied States was nothing but a few pages in their history books.

There are countries who have said "enough is enough", and they have taken a military stand.
Amoung the troop is another Judah.

Yehudah ben Yacob. Mark's hebrew name.

Yehudah has left his beloved, Tirzah Elanna bat Levi behind.

And this Mrs. Judah is standing at the window, like Daniel of old, praying for her husband, for the men and women he leads, trusting G-d to protest the troops and bring victory.

At night, I light a candle, waiting for my beloved's return home.

And this Hanukkah, as I kindle each one of the lights, I will indeed light the Lights of Freedom, of Hope.