Jewish Life Digital Edition November 2013 | Page 18

FEATURE

REKINDLING THE SPARKS
OF PEACE

THE HEART OF FIRE
CONTAINS THE UNIFYING
POWER OF PEACE
THE CHANUKAH LATKES AND DOUGHNUTS ARE
always sweet treats, and the dreidel-playing
quite entertaining. But the highlight of Chanukah, of course, is the lighting of the candles, a time when family unites to commemorate the overt wonder of the miniscule
amount of oil that miraculously lasted for
eight days. The victory on the battlefront was
no less spectacular, but it is specifically the
miracle of the oil that is cited in the Babylonian Talmud (Tractate Shabbat, 21b) as the
reason for the establishment of the festival
known to us as Chanukah, and thus we cele-

16 JEWISH LIFE

ISSUE 68

brate for a duration of eight days. What precisely is it that gives these flames such a
prominent role on the Chanukah stage?
Let’s look a bit closer into our Chanukah
candles, and perhaps along the way we
might also better understand the connection of the Temple’s rededication to the
earlier dedication and inauguration of the
Tabernacle in the wilderness, which was
completed on this very day of Chanukah so
many years before. For such a task, we
must return to the days of the Tabernacle
and catch up with Aaron the High Priest,

as he is presented with the honourable
charge of kindling the hallowed Menorah.

CANDLES AND SHALOM BAYIT
Aaron had just witnessed the offerings of
the tribal leaders when the Tabernacle was
first dedicated, and became despondent,
feeling himself and his tribe excluded from
any distinguished participation. The Midrash continues by citing G-d’s response to
Aaron’s despair, with the consolation that
his service would be even greater than that
of the heads of the other tribes, for he

PHOTOGRAPH: ILAN OSSENDRYVER

BY RABBI EYTAN FEINER