Rabbi ‘O’ and Students Relive the Chanukah Miracle

Rabbi Yaacov “Yankey” Orimland says the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah is about bringing light to the world. “A little light can take away a lot of darkness,” he said. “Imagine a really dark room. Just strike a match and you’ll see all you need.”

Hanukkah began Tuesday, and the 34 students at the Trocki Jewish Community Day School’s all-male high school gathered around a table and each lit a candle in a menorah — a candleholder that has a space for each of the eight nights and one for the shamash, the candle used to light the others.

By the end, the table was filled with lights and the students, who come from all over the world to attend the school, sang together arm in arm.

“When you light, little by little, you get a lot of light,” Orimland said. “We bring light not only to world but to individuals whose lives are also dark.”

The holiday celebrates the second century victory of the Maccabees — a small army of Jewish rebels in Israel — over the Syrian Greeks. The Greeks prohibited the Jews from practicing their religion and desecrated their temple in Jerusalem. But after a miraculous victory, according to Jewish tradition, the Maccabees re-entered the temple and rededicated the altar. The word “Hanukkah” comes from the Hebrew word for “dedication.”

When the victors wanted to light the menorah in the temple, they had only enough olive oil for one day. But then a second major miracle occurred, and the oil lasted for eight days.

Levi Nodel, 16, said he has learned a lot from the holiday’s miracles.

“They can be used as lessons in life,” the Miami resident said. “Take how the few stood up to the many.”

During the holiday, Jews around the world light menorahs and eat fried foods such as doughnuts and latkes — potato pancakes — made with oil to commemorate the holiday.

But Orimland said the ritual is more than just re-enacting the miracle. It’s also about reliving it.

“We not only light the menorah as a ceremony but do it to bring light to the world and individuals to those who are suffering. This is the message of Hanukkah,” he said. “There is so much suffering in the world and not enough light. We are talking about bringing light into the dark world and (acting) on it.”

Hanukkah is not among the holiest holidays in the Jewish year but often gets the most attention because it is so close to Christmas. But Orimland said that is beneficial for Hanukkah because the holiday’s message is important to spread. It is customary to light menorahs near a window to publicize the miracle, he said.

“We show the world who we are. We show the world what we are. At that time, it was the Greeks. But look throughout the Jewish history. How many nations tried to take us down?” he said. “But we are still here. We’re not only still here but we’re alive and ticking.”

Dovid Roetter, 17, of Detroit, said the menorah shows others the beauty of Hanukkah.

“It shows what one little candle can accomplish,” he said.

The school hosted a party Tuesday night before the students left for a two-week winter break. The students and staff gave gifts, played games and sang songs. Orimland said he wanted the students to stay for the start of the holiday to create a family atmosphere at the school.

“We use every holiday as an opportunity for that, but Hanukkah is traditionally a good time for families to come together,” he said.

The students said they looked forward to going home and being with their families.

Zalmy Kessler, 16, said his family has a lot of fun events planned, and the Morristown resident said he is expecting to receive a present for each night of the holiday.

“I have a lot of siblings,” he said. “I have five brothers and five sisters, so I’m covered.”

Menachem Kroll, 15, of Monsey N.Y., said he will celebrate at parties but keep in mind the inspiration he gets from the Maccabees.

“It’s about more than just doughnuts,” he said. “The Maccabees were fighting for the Jewish people. They were fighting for their religion. It helps me understand the Jewish religion and that we are not doing it for nothing.”