On the 25th of the month of Kislev in the Jewish calendar, Jews around the world will light Chanukah candles in their homes. This act commemorates the miracles that occurred at the time of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, 138 BCE.
After a time of peaceful co-existence with the Greeks who had conquered and now governed the Land, some Jews became Hellenized while others remained true to the Torah. The Greeks began to oppress the observant Jews. This worsened over time, until at last one Jewish family, the Hasmoneans, or Maccabees, rallied some followers and rose up against the mighty Greeks. Miraculously, they prevailedâthe few against the many, the pious against the pagan, divine light over human darkness.
The Greeks had taken over the Temple sanctuary and defiled all the oils kept for the temple lamps, symbolically destroying the essence of the Jewish soul. When the Hasmoneans defeated them, they found only one remaining jar of oil with the seal of the High Priest, with just enough oil for one day. Again, a miracle occurred as the oil burned for eight days, until new oil could be harvested. The next year, the Rabbis designated these days to be holidays of praise and thanks for the military victory, the re-dedication of the Temple and the miraculous oil.
For me, Chanukah brings to mind many questions regarding miracles. What exactly is a miracle? Do I believe in miracles? Are there miracles occurring in our time?
If we agree that a miracle is a beneficent occurrence that cannot be explained by the laws of nature, then we must first ask the question: What is a natural event? Why wouldnât any natural event that awes and excites us be considered a miracle? The truth is that we donât really understand the âlawsâ of nature. We know that the sun will rise tomorrow, but we still have no idea as to why nature was created that way. If the sun were to rise only once in our lifetime, everyone would rush out to see it, proclaiming it a miraculous event, but since we experience a sunrise every day we see it as just another ordinary part of our lives. We become so accustomed to something that, no matter how extraordinary it may be, we take it for granted.
Many people say, âIf I only saw a miracle, then I would believe.â What are we waiting for? Miracles are happening around us every moment. Life itself is a miracleâconsider the wonder of human birth! We become so distracted by our daily rounds of responsibilities and obligations that we tend to ignore the miracles we live and see each day. It is not that we donât believe in miracles, but that we simply stop taking the time to appreciate them. To see a miracle means to recognize the uncommon in the common, the extraordinary within the ordinary. When we can do this, supernatural occurrences are not that impressive. Your faith, and life, should not be dependent upon such miracles, for if you have a mature relationship with a reality that is higher than you are and you realize that the ultimate miracle is our very existence, you no longer crave the extraordinary. The divine miracle of nature is not to be found in a once-in-a-lifetime event, but in its relentless regularity.
Because so many of us take for granted the many wonders before our eyes, G-d does, on occasion, perform miracles to shake us, to elevate us to a higher plane of awareness. Such was the case in the miracle of Chanukah. However, we must realize that such obviously supernatural miracles are infrequent, especially today. This world was created with a natural order so that we could civilize it and make it a dwelling place for G-d. This is accomplished not by going beyond nature but by imbuing nature with that which is beyond.
To live a meaningful life, one must find meaning in everything we do and encounter, beginning with the natural world. We must learn to look at the world with fresh eyes, to observe the beauty of nature and stand in awe of its designer. There is something to be learned from everything; in a beeâs honeycomb, we see pure efficiency; in the pull of tides, we see the cyclical nature of time. We must look more closely at our daily experiences, for every moment contains a miracle; itâs up to us to stay receptive, to reveal the sublime within the everyday.
Yes, we can explain away many events, even âmiraculousâ ones. But then again, a good mind can explain away anything. Just as we have a choice in everything we do, we can use our minds to either seek out the miracles in life or be blind to them.
When lighting the Chanukah candles this year, commemorating the miracle of the Maccabees and the oil, we must recognize the miracles within nature, the miracle of nature itself, and the miracles of our own livesâthe successes weâve had and the very miracle of life. We must cultivate the good and the positive in our lives, transcending the darkness and the negativity. We must thank G-d for these miracles and not take them for granted.
Natalie Pakes was a U3 Psychology student and an active member of Hillel and Chabad when she published this article in Radix in December 2000. She recommended âToward a Meaningful Life,â a compilation of the works of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson.
