#813 Musings Beyond the Bunker (Friday December 8)
Good morning,
Happy Hanukkah (or Chanukah, or whatever spelling you choose…),
On this second day of Hanukkah, a few random thoughts…
MIRACLES
The story of Hanukkah revolves around the miracle that a tiny bit of oil, which should have lasted no more than one day, burned for eight whole days (hence, the eight days of celebration). For those who know me, you know that I don’t believe in fate, destiny, or miracles. The only miracles I put much purchase in are the Miracle Mets of 1969 and the Miracle on Ice, during the 1980 Olympic games.
There is a great meme going around that is a bar graph, with time measured along the x-axis (the bottom) and number of miracles reported during that time along the y-axis (the side). From the beginning of human history, there are large numbers of miracles reported over the centuries. But the number suffers a precipitous drop with the invention of the camera (by which people can, of course, provide photographic evidence of the existence or absence of a miracle). This relatively low level of reported miracles continues for over 150 years, but spikes up again with the invention of photoshop, continuing into the foreseeable future at a high annual rate. While funny, it serves as a reminder that we increasingly will be hearing many reports of the seemingly inexplicable in the coming months leading to the election and probably for some time to come. We will need to be good consumers and critics of what we read and what we see, for much of it will not be part of the “real world.”
MIRACLES, DESTINY, LUCK?
Before leaving the subject of miracles, I believe there are two reasons for our successes, failures, loves, and losses—personal choice and blind luck (good and bad). That said, the story of Hanukkah is a nice one and offers the opportunity to celebrate the “festival of light.” Light, as opposed to miracles, is something I can believe in. I believe in those whose words and deeds bring light in a time of darkness, those whose vision is clear and provide us a path toward greater things.
QUOTATION OF THE SEASON
I turn to a favorite Rabbinic scholar, my Christian friend Adam Torson, who shared a great quotation about the Hanukkah miracle and how the world expands with light, love, and knowledge:
“When we share something material, we are left with less of what we started. But currencies of spirit, elements such as light, love and knowledge, defy these physical conditions—they increase as they are shared and become eternal. On Chanukah when we use one flame to light another, the glow is not halved – the light is multiplied.”—Micaela Ezra
Here, by the way, is Ms. Ezra’s website. She’s an interesting artist:
https://www.micaelaezra.com/
ASSIMILATION VERSUS IDENTITY
Many people celebrate Hanukkah without much appreciation for the historical context. It celebrates the Maccabees, a militant group of non-assimilationist Jews, fighting against the Hellenistic attempts to assimilate the Jews and to subsume Jewish culture into Hellenistic culture. It is, in a sense, a holiday that celebrates ethnic identity and pride. Staying true to one’s heritage and defending it against being subsumed by a majority belief system or culture is laudable, to be sure.
But as a proud Jew and proud American, I believe there is room for both—the assimilation into Western culture, democratic institutions, and American values, while maintaining an ethnic identity infused with tradition, wisdom, and values that include healing the world. I would never choose one over the other.
In these fraught times, some people struggle to maintain their independent identity, often to the exclusion of the “dead white male” narrative of American history. Others see an erosion of their perception of America as a white Christian nation, many of whom choose vilify and separate “the other.” Some question the American experiment, while others believe American does not have room for other cultures, narratives, or beliefs. I hope we will settle upon a middle ground that celebrates the pride in one’s cultural heritage, balanced with a pride in who we are, and can be, collectively, in a free and democratic society, built not upon ethnicity or religion, but upon ideas, inclusion, and decency.
The image of light illuminating the world during the shortened days of Winter is pleasant. Light brings with it warmth. Light brings enlightenment. Enlightenment is something I think is in short supply these days. And so, a festival of enlightenment seems appropriate.
HANUKKAH FUN
And because it’s so stupid and never grows old, what has become a Hanukkah staple, here is the original “Hanukkah Song,” sung by Adam Sandler on Saturday Night Live:
Happy Hanukkah,
Glenn