By Karen Sherman
In both traditional and mystical Judaism, light symbolizes the genesis of the world and reminds us of a more subtle aspect of reality. From the simple beginning in Genesis (1:3) And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light, light has also come to symbolize all that is good, beautiful and holy from the Jewish perspective. In the front of the altar of every Jewish synagogue or temple, is a sanctuary lamp typically call the “eternal light” or ‘eternal flame”. It has been a fixture in Jewish houses of worship for centuries. Such a symbol was prescribed in Exodus 27:20-21: … command the children of Israel, and they shall take to you pure olive oil, crushed for lighting, to kindle the lamps continually. … Aaron and his sons shall set it up before the Lord from evening to morning; [it shall be] an everlasting statute for their generations, from the children of Israel.
In the mid- second century BCE in the reign of Antiochus IV, the Greek-Syrians persecuted the locals Jews. Judah Maccabee led a successful revolt and the Jews regained control of the Temple in Jerusalem. Alas, the oil that kept the eternal flame burning every night was nearly gone, with only enough oil to burn for a single day. However, the oil burned miraculously for eight days, the amount of time needed to obtain a fresh supply of oil. As a result, Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, is now celebrated by Jews throughout the world for eight days by the lighting of increasing numbers of candles in the menorah. Beginning on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev, the minor holiday of Hanukkah is a symbol of light and faith at a dark time of the year.