Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!
Christmas, the second-holiest day on the Christian calendar, and the second-to-last day of Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, coincide this year. The holidays celebrating the birth of Jesus, and the miracle of a one-day supply of oil for the rededicated Second Temple in Jerusalem lasting eight days, have this in common: They both offer much-needed messages of Hope that are so desperately needed today.
Hanukkah commemorates the victory in 164 B.C. of the Maccabees over the Syrian Greeks, who had been occupying the land of Israel and who had banned the practice of Judaism. Oil was in short supply as the Jewish leaders looked to rededicate the Second Temple after their victory, and indeed, there was only enough oil to burn for a single day. And yet it burned for eight days.
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The miracle of the oil fills believers with hope because it shows that God had not forgotten His people.
The birth of Jesus also fills Christian believers with hope of salvation. Christians recognize the child born in the Bethlehem stable as the Messiah, who has come to save them from their sins and lead them to eternal life.
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The miraculous birth also brings hope to believers, promising them redemption and relief from life's sufferings.
Both events are about the light they bring to the faithful. That light can be seen in practice today, from people opening their hearts to charitable efforts such as the Town of Palm Beach United Way's toy drive, to the town-wide tree and menorah lightings, to the return of traditional holiday services after two years of pandemic restrictions.
Remember those messages of hope this holiday season and beyond. Gather with family and friends and count your blessings, whether big or small, such as living in sunny Florida as a winter storm sweeps across the country.
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah, everyone. And may the hope that fills us during this holiday season stay with us far beyond it.
