*Pictured: Eran Glazer, 2 years old, lighting the menorah during Hanukkah with his family*

The Story of Hanukkah

“What is a miracle?” Growing up as a child In Israel, I asked myself this question every time I played with the dreidel during Hanukkah, the Feast of Lights. The dreidel has 4 letters in Hebrew representing the words “[A] Great Miracle Happened Here” Ness Gadol Hayah Poh.

The story of Hanukkah begins with the rebellion led by Judah the Maccabee against the evil Greek Empire and King Antioch. The term “Hanukkah” literally means “opening ceremony”, and in this Feast, we celebrate the re-opening of the Second Temple after it was cleansed from the blood of impure sacrifices that were made there by the heathen Greek Empire.

*The Revolt of the Macabees*

*Photo Courtesy: Haaretz*

Another factor in this story is the celebration of the miracle of the small oil lamp. The oil that was used for lighting the Menorah, the Lamp, in the Temple was totally defiled as it was used to sacrifice impure animals. But, when the Maccabees took back the Temple they found a small bottle of pure oil. That small bottle was enough for one day only, and it would take eight days to produce a clean, pure oil. The little bottle was used anyway, and it lasted for eight days! That’s why we lit the Hanukkiah, the nine-candles candelabrum, for eight days.

As a child I was always curious, and during Hanukkah asked the question, “How do you know that a miracle happened to you?” I also dreamed of being in the army of Judah the Maccabee, the hero who led the Jewish people to victory.

When I started working at the National Leadership Center in Ariel, Samaria, Israel I became aware of the fact that miracles happen – every day. Every person who comes through the NLC’s gates is a miracle. There are people who come carrying an emotional backpack filled with their past, and we cannot know what is in there.

*Pictured: Eran Glazer reading and teaching students at the National Leadership Center in Ariel, Israel*

The Leap of Faith

There was one girl who was truly an inspiration to us, and a proof that miracles happen. She was quiet and didn’t want to participate in any of the activities. She didn’t speak. At all. As it happened, the girl came to that boarding school two years before and never spoke a word with anyone since then. Her teacher told our staff to leave her and not bother as she wouldn’t be talking back to us anyway.

At the end, the girl climbed our Leap of Faith track, after much effort. When she came down, she hugged our trainers, and started talking! She told her heartbreaking story of abuse, and that from the top of the pole at the Leap of Faith, she had decided to live, and not to let her abuser control her future any longer. The teachers tell us that the girl hasn’t stopped talking since then. If that isn’t a miracle, I don’t know what is.

*Pictured: The Leap of Faith at the National Leadership Center*

Part of the training of the staff in the National Leadership Center is to create an atmosphere where miracles can happen and to look carefully and see miracles happening. We train our team to be grateful for the opportunity to be part of the chain of generations of miracles that we have been blessed with.

Many miracles have happened in these days in which Israel is at war, even in my own family. My eldest son was serving in an area of combat when his post was hit by a missile. He and his friends were injured. My son has “light” wounds, but it could easily have been worse and grave. He was wearing the helmet and wasn’t hit in the head. Even wounded, he was able to pull his friends to safety, and call for help. I believe that it is a true miracle!

The Miracles of Hanukkah

Winter is almost here, and with it, the Feast of Hanukkah. Every year, as we light the candles on the Hanukkiah, I recite this prayer together with my family and my friends:

“These candles we light… to thank and to praise Your Great Name and for Your miracles, Your salvation and Your wonders…”

This year, more than ever, I light the Hanukkiah and thank G-d for the salvation and miracles that have happened to me and my family, and the miracles that have happened at the National Leadership Center and to the people of Israel.

As an adult, I have learned to notice and appreciate miracles.On October 7th, we experienced a dark attack on the children of light, but on Hanukkah, many candles are lit in the homes of Israel as a sign of hope for the future.

We as a nation will focus on uniting these lights for a better future of a strong Israeli society. Seventy-five years of nation-building represent a great miracle that happened to the Jews who inhabit Zion.

As we light our candles this year, I hope that through our work we can join Judah the Maccabee in serving the future generations of leaders.