Chanukah Gelt: A Lesson in the Potential of Chanukah
As you recall, Yaakov (Jacob) went back for some small jars and our tradition reveals two hidden meanings within that episode. First, there is the idea that those jars would somehow live again in the jar of oil found at the time of Chanukah, and second, there is the odd notion that righteous people value money more than their own well- being.
Money, as we have discovered, is actually potential. One person looks at a hundred dollar bill and sees a CD player, another sees a watch and yet another sees a bicycle for their niece's a bicycle for their niece's birthday. Money, in and of itself has virtually no value, but its potential is almost limitless.
The lesson that Yaakov valued money and the lesson of Chanukah are one in the same. Potential.
People look at money, but they see far more than is actually present; they see all sorts of potential.
When the Jews resisted the Greeks they did so because they lived in the world of potential, a deep and often hidden world that lies beneath the surface. On the surface, it was preposterous for the Jews to resist the Greeks. Greek culture was overwhelming the world, Hellenism was the wave of the future and militarily no one could stand in the Greeks' path, certainly not a band of renegade Jews. That, however, was the view from the surface. The view through the lens of potential was far different.
The Jewish people knew that they were an eternal people. A people whose way of life and whose message of values, morality and spirituality was destined not only to last forever but also to have a world-shaping impact. This was the world of Jewish potential: a tiny and ill-equipped people was prepared to take on the superpower of its day, all because the Jews believed in the potential of Jewish destiny. They believed that no matter how dire things looked, there existed within the Jewish people, within the Jewish soul, the ability to vanquish the mightiest of foes and eventually fulfill their own mission of being, in the words of the prophet, light unto the nations."
Money, as we have discovered, is actually potential. One person looks at a hundred dollar bill and sees a CD player, another sees a watch and yet another sees a bicycle for their niece's a bicycle for their niece's birthday. Money, in and of itself has virtually no value, but its potential is almost limitless.
The lesson that Yaakov valued money and the lesson of Chanukah are one in the same. Potential.
People look at money, but they see far more than is actually present; they see all sorts of potential.
When the Jews resisted the Greeks they did so because they lived in the world of potential, a deep and often hidden world that lies beneath the surface. On the surface, it was preposterous for the Jews to resist the Greeks. Greek culture was overwhelming the world, Hellenism was the wave of the future and militarily no one could stand in the Greeks' path, certainly not a band of renegade Jews. That, however, was the view from the surface. The view through the lens of potential was far different.
The Jewish people knew that they were an eternal people. A people whose way of life and whose message of values, morality and spirituality was destined not only to last forever but also to have a world-shaping impact. This was the world of Jewish potential: a tiny and ill-equipped people was prepared to take on the superpower of its day, all because the Jews believed in the potential of Jewish destiny. They believed that no matter how dire things looked, there existed within the Jewish people, within the Jewish soul, the ability to vanquish the mightiest of foes and eventually fulfill their own mission of being, in the words of the prophet, light unto the nations."
The Egyptian, the Babylonian and the Persian rose, filled the |
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What Mark Twain understood in hindsight, the Jews at the time of Chanukah already knew because they lived not only in the world as it appeared but also in the world of potential.
When we light our menorahs we need to look closely at those tiny flames and contemplate the world of potential. Where others see darkness, we are called to see light. We need to look at our children, look beyond the problems and the quarrels, and see potential. We need to look at one another, beyond the faults and the foibles, and see potential. We need to look at life, beyond all the pain and struggles, and see potential. We need to look at our people, beyond the divisions and the hatred, and see potential. In everything we encounter, we need to look beneath the surface, to discover the soul, and to realize our ultimate potential.
When we light our menorahs we need to look closely at those tiny flames and contemplate the world of potential. Where others see darkness, we are called to see light. We need to look at our children, look beyond the problems and the quarrels, and see potential. We need to look at one another, beyond the faults and the foibles, and see potential. We need to look at life, beyond all the pain and struggles, and see potential. We need to look at our people, beyond the divisions and the hatred, and see potential. In everything we encounter, we need to look beneath the surface, to discover the soul, and to realize our ultimate potential.
From the Book, Inspiring Lights
Celebrating a vision of life as illuminated by the lights of Chanukah and all they represent
Khal Publishing. Distributed by Artscroll Mesorah Publications, Brooklyn, NY
