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Rabbi Eli Hecht, Chabad of South Bay
Vice-President, Rabbinical Alliance of America
Work (310) 326-8234, Fax (310) 326-1555, Cell (310) 528-4812 E-mail rabbieh@aol.com
Chanukah and Global Warming
Now that the holiday spirit of Chanukah has arrived, children are getting ready for the celebrations. During the holiday season, children from all religions are extremely busy. They are looking over the latest toys and gadgets found in circulars and websites from Toys R Us, Sam’s Club, FAO Schwartz, etc. Their job is to leave hints for gifts that their parents and friends will buy.
Jewish children anxiously wait for Chanukah to begin. As soon as the lights are lit, the presents will miraculously appear. The distribution of gifts between children and friends is a symbol of friendship and thanks to G-d for the miraculous time, bringing peace to the world.
Recently former Vice President Al Gore received the Nobel Peace Prize for his many years of work on global warming. Upon his acceptance of the award, he made the following statement: “We face a true planetary emergency. The climate is not a political issue, it is a moral and spiritual challenge to all of humanity. It is also our greatest opportunity to lift global consciousness to a higher level.” He is calling for accountability by world nations in securing a safer world.
His remarks got me thinking. What is happening to our great world? What can I do about the situation? I thought of the good things that might take place because of this “planetary emergency.” Perhaps countries will once again cooperate with each other. Maybe we will collectively take responsibility for the Earth’s environment. A new spirit of harmony might come about and we might learn how to live in peace and tolerance. Something like the message of the Chanukah holiday.
Let me quote the famous psychiatrist, Viktor Frankl, who in his autobiography wrote: “I can see beyond the misery of the situation to the potential for discovering a meaning behind it, and thus to turn an apparently meaningless suffering into a genuine human achievement. I am convinced that, in the final analysis, there is no situation that does not contain within it the seed of a meaning.”
The story of Chanukah has that message of hope. It took place in Israel in 165 B.C.E., when brave Jewish fighters called Maccabees (a word composed of the initial letters of the four Hebrew words “Mi Komocho Bo’eilim Hashem,” Who is like unto Thee, O G-d) rebelled against the Greek oppression of religious rights. When freedom was obtained, a Menorah (candelabra) was lit. Miraculously those lights burned for eight days, even though their source of oil was never replenished. Jews the world over celebrate this event with public Menorah lightings, festivities, and exchanging gifts. We hear a message about individual people joining together to collectively change the world. We feel pride in our religious freedom.
Nowadays how does a Jewish educator deal with the holiday season? I believe it’s best to know the meaning of holidays and find similarities and reasons for rejoicing. Jewish and other faiths all recognize the need for religion in a chaotic world. It has been said that for those who have religion there are no questions, while for those without religion there are no answers.
In my community, I have a day care and private school. Children are taught the importance of religions, and the need for all people to identify with religious objects and symbols. They’re taught that there are “Chanukah people” and “Christmas people,” and most of us in this country belong to one group or the other. And of course, different parts of the globe have embraced many other great religious traditions.
When the holidays come around, you feel respectful of each other’s religion.
My neighbors send me holiday cheer and cards marking their holidays, and I reciprocate with my holiday cards and greetings.
Our great country of America is a melting pot where our differences or prejudices melt away. Here our children love the holidays, each practicing their own while respecting others.
Once, when passing by a nativity scene, my 6 year-old said, “Look at the people, they must be Maccabees.” I told him that they were not Jewish warriors, but they were part of the holiday celebrations of our country. “That’s cool,” was his reply.
Cool it is indeed when we honor each other’s holidays. I hope that the Chanukah lights bring about good global warming in the form of respect and care for each other.
Rabbi Eli Hecht is vice–president of the Rabbinical Alliance of America and past–president of the Rabbinical Council of California. He is the director of Chabad of South Bay in Lomita, CA, which houses a synagogue, day school, nursery school and chaplaincy programs. | 
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