The Menorah that you have been kindling this past week has more spiritual power than you may know. Surely you are aware that we light the Menorah on Chanukah to commemorate the miracle that took place over 2000 years ago in the holy Temple in Jerusalem. The oil that was only enough to last for one day, lasted for eight. So the Menorah we light on Chanukah is a remembrance to the Menorah that was lit in the Temple back then.
Surprising though it may seem, the Menorah we light – although just a remembrance to the Menorah of the Temple of old – is in many ways more spiritually charged than the original. The Menorah today has the ability to light up the spiritual “darkness” that surrounds.
The Menorah is customarily lit at the window or even outside in public, while the Menorah in the Temple had to be lit indoors, in a spiritual sanctuary. The influence of the “darkness” outside of the Temple was too much for it to overcome. And when the Syrian-Greeks defiled the purity of the Temple, the Menorah was not able to be lit.
Our Chanukah Menorah though is spiritually powerful enough, not only to be lit near the window or outside but to even influence the outside, to overcome the darkness. The Menorah reminds us of our ability to overcome the forces of darkness and share light and joy with others. And it encourages us to be proud of who we are and not feel the need to be ashamed of living and acting Jewish.
In short, the Chanukah Menorah gives us the spiritual fire-power to live Jewishly in a decidedly un-Jewish world.
Wishing you a happy and illuminated Chanukah!