The Short Vort by Rabbi Eisenman

When one spends Shabboss in Yerushalayim, Shabbos does not end.

It continues way into Motzei Shabbos, especially on Chanukah.

The reason is that the lights of Chanukah on Motzei Shabbos illuminate the entire city for hours and hours after Shabbos has officially ended.

You walk the streets and all you see are Menorahs and more Menorahs.

And so many people light outside their homes- especially in the Old City of Yerushalayim that you are enveloped in the light of Chanukah.

Particularly this year, as there is a feeling of sadness because of the horrific events of Simchas Torah, the lights of Chanukah are a balm and a catalyst for healing.

The Chanukah lights this year serve the dual purpose of not only fulfilling the Mitzvah of publicizing the miracle of old of the Chashmonaim (Maccadees), they act as a powerful source of hope for the future.

Many have asked how they can celebrate Chanukah this year?

After all, the war is going on; there was the terrible pogram on Simchas Torah, and in United States, the presidents of three of the most prominent universities cannot even unequivocally declare that calls for genocide of the Jewish people constitutes harassment and must be disciplined!

One may ask, with all these issues going on, “How can we celebrate Chanukah?”

I suggest, the question is, “How can one NOT celebrate Chanukah?”

Chanukah, perhaps more than any other holiday represents how light can still shine amidst the darkness.

The era of the Chasmonaim was far darker than now, and the few Torah true Jews who remained were far out-numbered and far out-gunned by the Greeks-Yevanim.

Nevertheless, the few Torah-true Jews who remained, persisted and they refused to succumb to the darkness of the anti-Semitic decrees of their enemies.

They lit one candle.

One candle to help illuminate the darkness.

They figured that light would soon extinguish.

However, HaShem saw their self-sacrifice and saw their determination and witnessed their steadfast and unbending commitment to Torah and Mitzvahs, and He responded!

The lesson of Chanukah is the lesson of hope.

It is the lesson that if we do all we can to kindle even one candle - a candle which most likely will not last more than one day, HaShem will respond in ways greater than we could have ever expected.

We must light the Chanukah lights this year with even greater fervor and sincerity than ever before.

This year, more than ever, the Chanukah lights infuse us with a sense of purpose and most importantly, with the determination to continue and to not only survive, but, to believe we can thrive!

Just as the Maccabees of old, lit one candle to illuminate the darkness and were privileged to witness a miracle, so too, this year, we kindle the lights amidst the darkness and HaShem will brighten our lives in ways we could never have dreamt were possible.

Chanukah is the holiday which proves the resiliency of the Jewish people.

It is the holiday of commemorating events of long ago, yet, just as important, it is the holiday which portends a better and BRIGHTER tomorrow.