As you read this some of you will be looking forward to heading home for the winter break. Others will be unable to return. It has been a difficult term for all of you, perhaps especially for first years who had been looking forward to a different university experience.
Next week, Jewish people will celebrate the festival of Chanukah. Like other religious festivals such as Christmas and Diwali, it comes in the depths of winter and symbolises light in the darkness. Also like those festivals, in the darkness of Covid it can bring us light. Chanukah celebrates the victory of a Jewish group called the Maccabbes in their fight against the Greeks for religious freedom. But it is more than the celebration of a historical event. The story of Chanukah tells of how ‘the few defeated the many’. The Maccabees and those who joined them were a tiny band but they defeated the mighty Greek empire. In our time, we now see hope as a few dedicated scientists have discovered vaccines with unprecedented speed. We have also found light in the examples of health care and other support workers and many more who have helped others during the crisis in less public ways.
Each of us, too, can help to bring light. There was a debate between two first century Jewish teachers, Hillel and Shammai, about how to light the candles. Hillel maintained we should light one candle on the first day and gradually increase to eight on the last day. Shammai thought we should start with eight candles and gradually decrease to one. Hillel won the argument. He explained that we should ‘increase in holiness.’ Holiness and goodness spread. The light of the good that one person does can influence others so that the light spreads.
Our celebrations this year, whatever they are and wherever they are, will be very different. Even if we can meet with our families, numbers will be limited and we will have to find other ways to meet, as we have done for the past nine months. Nevertheless, as we approach midwinter, may the message of light in darkness give us hope. May it inspire us to bring light to others and may our hope increase, just as the daylight increases as we approach spring, so that when spring comes, we can experience the joy of life renewed.
Margaret Jacobi – Progressive Judaism Chaplain