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Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks
Eight Thoughts for Chanukah

one? It can’t be both. Logic suggests you part of “Hatikvah,” the Hope, that the candles. But suppose we don’t have
should light it as a Chanukah candle. After inspired Jews to return to Israel and one. Can we light the first candle and
all, there is no law that you have to sell or rebuild their ancient state. then use it to light the others?
borrow lights for Shabbat. Yet the law is you
light it as a Shabbat light. Why? The Jewish people kept hope alive, and Rav said no and Shmuel said yes.
hope kept the Jewish people alive. Normally we have a rule that when Rav
Maimonides: ‘The Shabbat light takes and Shmuel disagree, the law follows
priority because it symbolizes shalom bayit, Inside / Outside Rav. There are only three exceptions and
domestic peace. And great is peace because There are three lights in Judaism: this is one. Why did Rav say you may not
the entire Torah was given to make peace Shabbat candles, the Havdalah candle, take one Chanukah candle to light the
in the world. ‘The Shabbat light takes and the Chanukah candles. others?
precedence because in Judaism the greatest Shabbat candles represent shalom bayit,
military victory takes second place to peace peace in the home and inner light. They Because you diminish the first candle
in the home. are lit indoors. They illuminate the (inevitably some wax or oil will spill
when you use it) and we don’t do
sanctity of marriage and the holiness of
Judaism’s survival is because we have anything that diminishes the light of the
always valued children more than generals home. first.
and peace in the home over military The Chanukah candles used to be lit But the law follows Shmuel. Why?
victory. That’s our true glory. outside — outside the front door, as

The Third Miracle they are in Israel today. The Lubavitcher Think of two Jews: both religious, both
committed, both living full Jewish lives.
Rebbe introduced the custom of lighting
We all know the miracles of Chanukah One says: I must not get involved with
– the military victory of the Maccabees giant menorahs in public places to bring Jews who are less religious than me,
against the Greeks, and the miracle of back the original spirit of the day. because if I do, my own standards will
the oil that should have lasted one day Chanukah candles are the light Judaism fall. My light will be diminished. That’s
but burned for eight. But there was a brings to the outside world when we Rav.
third miracle too, several centuries later. are unafraid to announce our identity in
public, live by our principles and fight, if The other says no. When I use the
After the destruction of the second necessary, for our freedom. flame of my faith to light a candle in
Temple, many rabbis were convinced someone else’s life, my Jewishness is
that Chanukah should be abolished The Havdalah candle, made up of several not diminished. It grows because there
because it celebrated the rededication of wicks, represents the fusion of the two, is now more Jewish light in the world.
the Temple. Without a Temple, what was the inner light of Shabbat, joined to the That’s Shmuel.
there left to celebrate? outer light we make during the six days
of the week when we go out into the When it comes to spiritual goods, the
The Talmud tells us that Chanukah was world and live our faith in public. more I share, the more I have. If I share
indeed abolished in at least one town. my knowledge, or faith, or love with
Yet eventually the other view prevailed, When do we bring light to the world? others, I don’t have less; I have more.
and we celebrate Chanukah to this day. When we live as Jews in private, Share your Judaism with others. Take
filling our homes with the light of the the flame of your faith and help set other
Why? Because although the Temple was Shechina; when we live as Jews in public,
destroyed, Jewish hope was not. We may bringing the light of hope to others, and souls on fire.
have lost the building but we still had the when we live both together.
story, the memory, and the light. And
what had happened once in the days of To Light Another Light Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks is Emeritus
the Maccabees could happen again. And The Talmud asks: can you take one Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew
it was those words, od lo avdah tikvatenu, Chanukah light to light another? Usually Congregations of the Commonwealth
.
“our hope is not destroyed,” that became we take the shamash and use it to light all @RabbiSacks www.RabbiSacks.org

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