|
A MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI
My Dear Readers, as I am writing this, we are 10 days away from Hanukkah. It seems like just last week was Thanksgiving. (Oh, last week was Thanksgiving.)
I wrote the essay below two years ago. I hate to say it but, despite what my essay says, I think we need miracles more today than ever before. Oy.
What do you think? Please read the essay and let me know if you would prefer to have miracles, or to live in a world where miracles are not needed.
All I Need is: No Need For a Miracle
It’s nearly that time of year again. We will be lighting our Menorahs and recalling the various miracles that God performed for our ancestors as they overcame the Syrian-Greek army and rededicated the Temple. I love this time of year. I love the Menorah. I love the story. I love the songs. I love the Sufganiyot. I love the latkes.
Too often I love the latkes in excessive amounts.
Having acknowledged my immense adoration of the holiday and its traditions, something dawned on me as I was preforming the mitzvah of pondering the candles flickering on our Menorah. I am a bit nervous to report that I have an issue with the whole idea of the miracle(s).
Before you shout out “Rabbinic Blasphemy!”, hear me out.
My problem is borne of the fact that, more often than not, a miracle is required because something bad has happened or is happening. Look at the Hanukkah story. Israel is overrun by the Syrian-Greeks and Israelites are being forced to convert. The Temple is defiled. The military and oil miracles only become necessary because of the sad state of affairs experienced by our ancestors.
Indeed, a review of many of the miracles of our tradition will reveal that misery, or something resembling it, preceded each wondrous event.
Sarah had a baby at 90, but only after suffering years of infertility. Redemption from Egypt occurs, but only after centuries of slavery. The Red Sea splits only because the Egyptians had given chase. David slays Goliath, but he must do so only because the Israelites are in constant conflict with the Philistines.
It seems that the flip side of the occurrence of a miracle is the fact that the miracle was needed in the first place.
While I recognize the importance of acknowledging the miracles that happen (and I love celebrating them), I have a new thought. Perhaps we should also be praying for a time when miracles are no longer needed.
Here is my prayer for this holiday season:
Dear God, Who spoke and created the world by first saying: “Let there be light”.
May the time soon come when the world will not need You to perform miracles.
A time when the way it is, is as it should be.
A time of peace.
A time free of conflict.
A time free of Antisemitism.
May this time occur soon.
Amen.
We are each a light. Shine as bright as you can. Help others to shine.
Shabbat Shalom and get your Menorahs ready– Rabbi Michael S. Jay
|