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Chanukah is the “Festival of Lights’ and commemorates the Jewish People’s battle for religious and national freedom against King Antiochus and the Seleucids (the Syrian-Greeks) who tried to impose their idolatrous Hellenistic culture and religion on the Jews. Against all odds, led by Judah the Maccabee, the small Jewish band of patriots prevailed over the powerful king and his vastly larger forces. This year as Jews light their Menorahs, it is even more important to find and focus on the light in our lives despite the darkness through which we are living. Hug your family members a little closer and appreciate the time together.
The Hebrew word Chanukah means dedication because we celebrate the rededication of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem after the Seleucids were vanquished from the land of Israel. This week as we light our menorahs at home, let us rededicate ourselves to preserving our freedom and liberty in America. Like the Maccabees, we must lead with pride in our great American heritage and our American Constitution, founded upon our Judeo-Christian values and beliefs. We must have the courage to fight back against those who seek to undermine our values and threaten our national existence. Each one of us can be a Maccabee, together, we can be inspired by by the historic victory in the Second Century BCE when with God’s help, the small but courageous force of the Maccabees did prevail over the vastly larger forces of their enemies. Together, with God’s blessings, we pray that we will overcome the challenges we face today and may our success be the miracle of 2020. God bless America and Happy Chanukah!
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