REDEDICATION

             As we light our Chanukah Menorah I see the tapers as our 'message ambassadors' to enlighten our way to a world of spirituality.

      The message is clear and unambiguous.  It is a message of non-conformity. The victory of yesterday which we commemorate on Chanukah is  a victory  of traditional Judaism over hellinization of our Judaic way of life.

    The Maccabees reaffirmed and re-educated themselves to the belief and observances of traditional Judaism. They were sending a message to the world - the Jewish people will not conform to the mores of modern society and their way of life. We will light the menorah and these little lights of inspiration will tell the world we are nonconformists when it comes to our religious beliefs. We will maintain our way of life and deny the tide of assimilation.  We will maintain our individuality with pride and bring the light of Yiddishkeit to the world. 

    We need to light the menorah  מהדרין מן המהדרין ,suggesting that the proper way of lighting Chanukah candles is to have every member of the family involved, and to encourage everyone to bask in the light of Torah and Mitzvot.

    In our Parsha this week we read about יוסף הצדיק.  Like the Maccabees, Yosef was truly a non conformist in denying any intrusion into maintaining his way of life taught to him by his father Jacob - even in Egypt where he was its leader.

     As we light our Menorah and recite הנרות הללו קודש הם, 'the candles are holy', let us affirm that we, as a People are equally Holy. To maintain our  קדושה, we must never conform to the mores of the society and always be who we are--loyal Jews to our Torah way of life.

    Wishing everyone a Freilichan and Inspirational Chanukah.