A little more than 2000 years ago, under the rule of the Seleucid empire, our nation was in distress. A small group, the Maccabees, decided to revolt. They were little in number and weak compared to their rivals, but they fought and won against all odds.
The story tells that when they came back to the temple, three years after it was looted and services stopped, they wanted to light the menorah, but they could only find one flask of pure olive oil, enough for only one day. Somehow this little flask was enough for eight days, the time needed to prepare a fresh supply of oil.
This week, on Hanukkah, we celebrate the victory of light over darkness. The victory of the little and the weak over the great and powerful. We celebrate hope.
Sometimes in life, the days seem too dark and the troubles too many, and we just do not seem to have enough strength…
But if we find the courage to start, to try, we might succeed. Because sometimes even the weak win the battle. And sometimes the “flask” of our strength contains way more than what we bargained for…
Happy Hanukkah and merry Christmas to all.