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Hanukkah
begins Sundown November 28th and ends on Sundown
December 6th this year. It is called the Festival of
Lights. I know that most of you are aware that “light” signifies
Intelligence … which is that part of the “likeness of G-d”
within every living thing … including humans.
There is so much myth in the history of religions, that
it is rare that we find the facts regarding just about every
significant religious event. I love the celebrations of
Hanukkah, Christmas and Easter, and Passover. But like the Santa
Claus Christmas, much of what brought these celebrations forward
has been “touched up” so to speak.
There is an article in the Washington Post written by
Michelle Bornstein that brings out some facts about Hanukkah
that most of us are not aware of. From the article: “Indeed,
Hanukkah is generally marked as a fun, lighthearted and
religiously less significant holiday, one puffed up and
transformed by its proximity on the calendar to Christmas. Kids
open presents (sometimes one for each night!), play a gambling,
spinning-top game called dreidel, and eat fried foods like
doughnuts and potato pancakes to commemorate the mythical oil.
But the story historians tell is heavier, about
violent Jewish zealots called the Maccabees who were fighting
back not only against the religious oppression of the Greeks,
but also against fellow Jews who adopted Greek ways, such as
idol worship. The Maccabees killed Jews who wanted to
assimilate, and to stop doing Jewish things like keeping kosher
and circumcising.
(Laurie Solnick) “We’re not going to give up our
myths; they give us amusement and comfort. But if you break
[Hanukkah] down to its most elemental aspects, it’s a grim
holiday.”
Hanukkah has
always had varied and competing narratives, depending on the era
and the specific Jews celebrating.
In the
decades after the founding of the state of Israel, after World
War II and the Holocaust, there was an emphasis on the power of
the small band of fighters at the center of the story — the
Maccabees. In the Hanukkah story, a Jewish priest named
Mattathias and his sons led them in a bloody revolt against the
much larger group of Greeks and the pro-assimilation Jews.
(further in the
article) There has always also been the aspect of Hanukkah about
light, in particular a small, metaphorical light that’s able to
illuminate or shine in a wider darkness. That can be an
all-purpose symbol for anyone or be about the role of
responsibility of Jews to be a unique light. Some feel that has
become proportionally larger along with a modern interfaith
movement emphasizing sameness. (end)
Does this mean that we shouldn’t celebrate Hanukkah if
we are not Jewish? Of course not. There is no religion on Earth,
or philosophy for that matter, that doesn’t have a dark period
in their history. It would be foolish not to expect it to be so.
Yet, these dark periods have given rise in most cases to
something greater, something that brings us together as a people
more and more. Evolution of thought and mind make it necessary
that this is so.
In the Glossary of the Science of Mind & Spirit, the
American Mystic Ernest Holmes gives us these words regarding
LIGHT: In flashes of illumination, the inspired have seen INTO
THE VERY CENTER OF REALITY, and have brought back with them a
distinct impression of what they have seen and felt. A glimpse
of this Reality illumines the whole being with a flood of light.
Every mystic has had this experience. Jesus was the greatest of
all mystics; and once, at least, after a period of illumination,
his face was so bright his followers could not look upon it. In
moments of deepest realization, the great mystics have sensed
that One Life flows through ALL; and that all are some part of
that Life. They have also seen Substance, a fine, white,
brilliant Stuff, forever falling into everything; a Substance
indestructible and eternal. At times, the realization has been
so complete that they have been actually blinded by the light."
We know that more Light will be realized as we use the
Light that we have. The best way to make use of this Light, is
to focus our mental energy on Light. We can benefit from the
tradition of Hanukkah; everyone can, not just those of the
Jewish faith. Let’s not forget that the Master Mind Jesus
participated in this tradition:
A menorah, which has only seven candleholders, was the lamp used
in the ancient holy temple in Jerusalem — now a symbol of
Judaism and an emblem of Israel. A Hanukkiah, however,
has nine candlesticks — one for each night of Hanukkah and an
extra one to light the others.
We can participate for 7 days or for 9, depending on
what our aspirations are. We don't have to buy a menorah and we
don't have to do this during, before, or after Hanukkah. We can
do it at anytime we choose. Get still in your mind as you light
a candle. Look directly at the candle until you begin to sense
that your mind is relaxed and receptive to a greater Light, or
wisdom, or understanding, or healing. Whatever it may be that
caused you to participate in this spiritual practice. Do not
allow your mind to wander but gently keep it focused on what you
desire. It is best to do this after Sundown and at the same time
each of the 7 or 9 days. Remember Light and Love are part of the
Law of G-d, which is G-d. Everyone who gifts themselves with
this spiritual practice shall benefit from it. It is a certain
kind of Light that will touch our soul (consciousness).
Keep the Faith!
Rev-Bates
(Reverend Dr. Henry Lee Bates)
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