Hanukka is all about the miracles: Jews’ victory over the many forces of Hellenism, reclaiming and rededicating the Temple, the oil.

Throughout Hanukka, we add a prayer about those miracles to each daily service and to birkat hamazon, the blessing after eating. (For the religiously scrupulous, when you include lighting candles, it means formally recalling the miracles of Hanukka up to seven times a day!)

That additional prayer is known by its opening words, “al hanissim / for the miracles.” The first paragraph is praise and thanks to Adonai for unspecified salvations, mighty acts, and wonders, “done for our ancestors….”

As is our Jewish wont, there are two versions of the introduction’s closing phrase. One version ends with the words “baz’man hazeh / at that time;” the other reads “uvaz’man hazeh / and in this time:” The awesome miracles of old v. the continuing miracles in our day.

(The other section of the additional prayer is a brief recounting of “why Hanukka,” i.e., about the theocentric miracles, with an expression of our appreciation. There are similar paragraphs for Purim and yom ha’atzma’ut / Israel Independence Day.)

What is it about this prayer-cum-history that merits a place in our liturgy? During Pesach / Passover, Sukkot or Shavuot services, we add references to the festival sacrifices in the ancient Temple, but not a capsule retelling of the story.

Hanukka, occurring long after Torah, has no concomitant sacrifice, but it does have something vital: encouragement, inspiration. Two hundred years after the Hasmoneans wrested back Jewish control over the land of Israel, the Romans wrote the final chapter of Jewish sovereignty…until 1948.

For the intervening millennia, the prayer/history of al hanissim served as a beacon of hope for the Jews, wherever they were. If it happened once, it can happen again!

When we view miracles as having occurred only in ancient times, we deny ourselves the prospect that, at least in the land of Israel, miracles can happen even today. And, even as we invoke Adonai’s assistance, we need to be ready and willing to help make them happen!

Hanukka sameiach ! Happy Hanukka ! חנוכה שמח
and join us for candle-lighting and fun stuff online, nearly every night of Hanukka.
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and, Shabbat shalom ! שבת שלום