Quantcast
Skip to content
Communities
  • North Fork
    • Jamesport
    • Mattituck
    • Orient
    • Riverhead
    • Shelter Island
    • Southold
  • The Hamptons
    • Montauk
    • Quogue
    • Sag Harbor
    • Sagaponack
    • Southampton
    • Water Mill
    • Westhampton Beach
  • NYC
  • Palm Beach
  • Home Pros
  • Digital Editions
  • Dan’s Best of the Best
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe
Dan’s Papers
  • Things to Do

    Events Calendar

    View and Post Events

    • Books & Authors
    • Concerts
    • Comedy
    • Fairs & Festivals
    • Film
    • Fitness & Outdoors
    • Galleries & Museums
    • Kids & Families
    • LGBTQ+
    • Nonprofits & Philanthropy
    • Pets & Animals
    • Seasonal & Holiday
    • Shopping
    • Theater

    Dan’s Events

    Visit Dan’s Taste

  • Arts & Culture
    • Artist Profiles
    • Books & Authors
    • Galleries & Museums
    • Performing Arts
    • Music, Film & TV
  • Food & Drink
    • Recipes
    • Restaurants
    • Bars, Breweries & Distilleries
    • Wine & Wineries
  • Celebrity News
  • Local News
    • Crime & Police
    • Politics
    • Health
    • Business
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Obituaries
  • Real Estate
  • Lifestyle
    • Fashion & Style
    • Hotels & Inns
    • Kids & Family
    • Nonprofits & Philanthropy
    • Party & Event Photos
    • Wellness
    • Dan Rattiner’s Stories
Columns & Opinions

The Meaning of Chanukah: Coming Together in Light

By Rabbi Josh Franklin
3 minute 12/18/2022 Share
Close up of extended Jewish family celebrating Hanukkah Chanukah at dining table. Focus is on mature man lighting candles in menorah.
Chanukah begins today, December 18

Rabbi Josh Franklin of the Jewish Center of the Hamptons shares his thoughts on the history and meaning of Chanukah, which takes place this year Sunday, December 18 through Monday, December 26.

The Meaning of Chanukah

Like most Jewish holidays, Chanukah fits into the simple pattern of “they tried to kill us, we won, let’s eat.”

The origin of the holiday dates back to a group of Jewish rebels called the Maccabees who carried out a mutiny against the Seleucid Greek power that was occupying the land of Israel in 167 BCE. The odds of the Maccabees defeating the powerful Greek army was akin to Tunisia winning the World Cup.

Close

Get the Full Story

News, events, culture and more — delivered to you.
Thank you for subscribing!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Yet the Maccabees prevailed, and upon their victory, they entered the Temple in Jerusalem, which had been ransacked. They sought to rededicate the Temple by rekindling its giant golden menorah.

They only had enough oil, however, to last a single day. Miraculously, as the story goes, the oil lasted eight days, paving the way for our current eight-day holiday.

There are a number of ways to explain Chanukah today. It marks a miraculous military victory; it’s a reminder of the miracle of the oil; and it’s become a holiday of lights in a time that generally coincides with the winter solstice.

The early Roman historian Josephus proclaims Chanukah as the “Festival of Lights,” because “the freedom to worship had been concealed in darkness and was then brought out as a light.”

There is one more thing that I find special about Chanukah every year. Chanukah unites various peoples together throughout the world and celebrates our ability to create light not just through lighting candles, and not just through our freedom to worship, but through forging sacred relationships.

The Maccabees never could have imagined that a few thousand years in the future, a rabbi and a Greek Orthodox priest (Father Constantine Lazarakis) would become friends, co-authors, and show their communities just how much Jews and Greeks can learn from one another.

No longer do we need a paradigm of light versus dark in relation to Chanukah. Today, we should simply focus on bringing as much light as possible into the world.

The Jewish Center of the Hamptons offers public menorah lightings around the Hamptons. Visit jcoh.org/chanukah to learn more.

Rabbi Josh Franklin
Rabbi Josh Franklin
  • Vetted Hamptons Resources

    Hamptons Classified 

    Access our trusted network of local professionals and browse employment opportunities in the Hamptons.
    Find a Home Pro Search Jobs
  • Most Recent Articles

    Westhampton Beach High School

    Super Tuesday 2025: Voters to Decide East End School Budgets, Boards

    Ruta Oaxaca chef Felipe Arellano

    Ruta Oaxaca Chef Felipe Arellano Brings Mexican Bites to Rose Soiree

    The Bristol, oceanfront, condo, West Palm Beach

    $15M Condo Lists in The Bristol, Where Elon Musk Reportedly Wants to Buy

    Shrimp, Rice Pilaf and Asparagus.

    Recipe: Make Shrimp, Rice Pilaf & Asparagus for Mom

  • Dan’s Papers

    The iconic mainstay of Long Island’s East End for over 60 years.

    Read Our Papers

    Digital Editions of Dan's Papers are available online.
    Get our best stories right into your inbox. Subscribe
    Follow us
    © Dan’s Papers 2025 Schneps Media |
    Designed by Digital Silk
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy

    Post an Event