Keeping it light

What Jewish history teaches us about darkness

By Rabbi Fishel Zaklos

What’s more powerful — light or dark? How does the classic battle of good versus evil play out in real life?

Darkness takes up more news time and brain space than light-filled tales. Open any news site, and you will inevitably find more sad and scary happenings than positive and uplifting stories. But is darkness stronger and more enduring than light? Is a sword more powerful than a heart of courage?

Superficially, yes. But all we need to do is think about the history of the Jewish people, and we’ll realize the truth — that although we were often the victims of evil done to us by people physically stronger, they are gone, and we are here. We thrive and grow until this very day.

What will the world look like in a hundred years? I have no idea. Perhaps there will be flying Teslas occupying our airspace, and AI waiters bringing us our food. But I know for certain that the Jewish people will be here, lighting Shabbat candles, and celebrating the Bar and Bat Mitzvahs of our children. The Jewish nation is eternal.

“Not by might, and not by power, but by My spirit, said the Lord of hosts.” ~ Book of Zecharia

The Chanukah story about a small ragtag group of Maccabees taking down the mightiest army on earth — the Greeks — just by the power of their faith and courage is a perfect example of how a little light is so much more powerful than darkness. No military analyst would have predicted their victory; or that 2,200 years later, millions of people would still celebrate that victory of light by lighting Menorahs, eating latkes and playing dreidel.

The Maccabees took to heart the verse from the Biblical book of Zecharia: “Not by might, and not by power, but by My spirit, said the Lord of hosts.” Our strength is with our spirit or “ruach," which we believe is infinitely more potent and consequential than the sharpest knife and the fastest fighter jet.

This is not to say that physical prowess is unimportant. We are grateful every day that brave nations like the United States and Israel have armies that can stand up to tyrants and those who wish them harm. We owe these selfless soldiers a huge debt of gratitude.

Yet we know that might, uncoupled with spiritual tenacity and a heart of light and love, will not endure.

Physical victories are not the only battles worth noting. It is not only weapons of steel that win wars, but words of prayer and Psalms, sacrifices to save another, and the courage to unite against the common enemy of evil.

This message is extremely important in our times when so many people are anxious about the stressful news that seems to be overwhelming our social media feeds and TV screens. For a moment, we might feel powerless and terrified by the force of darkness that seems so much more powerful than little me and the little Mitzvah or any act of kindness I’ve done.

But consider the power of one tiny match to push away the heavy darkness of a pitch-black room. How a small glow can envelop us and light the way through the dark. So, while the pain we experience from darkness is very real, we can take solace in the truth that we retain the ability to dispel even the darkest night.

That’s why I hold onto the Jewish story and the miracle of the Maccabees … so I will never forget the truth of life: light will win every time. Yesh Tikvah –– there is hope and promise that the arc of history will bend towards the spirit.

Don’t give up. Don’t give in. Join together this Chanukah and kindle an eternal flame. Fight with light. You are guaranteed to win.