Chanukah: Living Jewish in America

Next week we will be celebrating Chanukah. We are familiar with the story of Chanukah and the subsequent Miracle of Lights which we commemorate by lighting the Menorah. But as we take a look at this holiday, we quickly realize that the victory of the Maccabees over their Greek oppressors constitutes the first victory for religious freedom in recorded history. 
What the Greeks sought to do was have the Jews forget who they were. They wanted to make us abandon our traditions and practices, and have us forget they were divinely inspired and carried forth from generation to generation.  But despite the hardships, we prevailed. Judaisim thrived. 
Today we are lucky to live in America. In a benevolent society where our rights to practice Judaism are protected, respected and guaranteed. There has arguably never been a better time to be alive as a Jew than in America today where we have the opportunities of education, liberty and prosperity. But at this wonderful time of freedom, we must remember to cherish our Judaism as well.

We have held onto our religion, values and traditions for so long. We must continue to do so now. Let us live as proud Jews. 

One lesson the Menorah lights teaches us is that we must each constantly increase in our goodness and kindness. What we did yesterday is insufficient for today. If we did one mitzvah yesterday, today we must do two. There is no limit to the goodness we can add to the world and those around us. 

So this year as we light the Menorah, let us commit ourselves to live as better Jews by adding one additional light of mitzvah goodness each day. This Jewish holiday, like all others, is about much more than “they tried to kill us, we won, lets eat!” in fact, it's probably time we reword that: They tried to kill us, we won, lets live!