Have you ever noticed how often God chooses to work through something small to reveal something extraordinary? Hanukkah, which is also known as The Feast of Dedication. The Festival of Rededication, or The Festival of Lights, is a reminder of that truth. It is a celebration that rises out of darkness and oppression, yet shines bright with courage, resilience, and God’s faithfulness to His people.

The origins of the eight-night celebration date back to the second century BC, when the Greek Empire ruled the Land of Israel. Everything sacred to the Jewish people had been threatened: their faith, their traditions, their worship, their very identity. The Temple had been desecrated, and the people were forbidden from living out the commandments God had given them. Yet a spark of resistance ignited, and a small group — Judah the Maccabee and the Maccabees — refused to let their identity or faith be erased. Their battle was not only physical but also deeply spiritual as they fought for the right to worship the God of Israel freely. Against all odds, they reclaimed the Temple, purified it, and rededicated it to God.

And then came the miracle we celebrate at Hanukkah. When the Temple was repossessed during the Maccabean revolt, only one jar of pure, uncontaminated oil could be found—just enough to light the Temple’s menorah for one day. Yet miraculously, that one jar of oil burned for eight days, allowing time for new, purified oil to be prepared.

God Himself brought light back into His sanctuary. That is why families today celebrate Hanukkah by lighting the Hanukkiah, a nine-branched candelabra distinct from the seven-branched menorah used in the Temple (it includes one candle for each night of the festival plus a starter candle). This special menorah stands as a powerful symbol of a simple truth: light increases when it is spread. With each passing night, a new candle is lit, building on the brightness already shining.

This year, as Israel continues to wade through grief, trauma, and the long shadow remaining in the wake of October 7, the message of Hanukkah feels especially powerful. Once again, darkness tried to overwhelm the people of Israel, and once again, light has won.

And just like in the days of the Maccabees, miracles are still happening. We see it in students who discover strength they did not know they had. We see it in families who experience protection in moments of danger. We see it in communities that choose unity and compassion when it would be easier to fall into despair. These stories illuminate the truth that the God of Israel is still active, present, and faithful to His people.

As candles are lit in homes throughout Israel and around the world, we’re reminded that this celebration is not only about remembering a miracle from long ago, but also about recognizing the God Who continues to preserve His people even when the world around them feels uncertain. It is about believing that God can take what seems small, fragile, or insufficient and make it more than enough.

Here at JH Israel, our prayer this Hanukkah is that each of us would carry and spread the light God has placed within us. We echo the words of the Haneirot Hallalu that we joyfully sing after we light the candles each night: “We kindle these lights [to commemorate] the saving acts, miracles and wonders which You have performed for our forefathers, in those days at this time…” May we see that same miraculous light shine in our own days, and may it strengthen Israel, comfort those who mourn, and inspire the next generation of leaders rising in the Land. Chag Sameach!