The Lesson of Hanukkah

Hanukkah is often described as a miracle of oil, but the oil is not the real miracle; it is the sign of it. The true miracle is that the people returned. Teshuva.

The Temple had not been destroyed; it had been compromised. Many had learned to live comfortably alongside pagan Greek practices, reshaping holiness so it no longer required obedience. Hanukkah marks the moment when that accommodation ended—when the Temple was reclaimed and rededicated to God as it was meant to be.

The oil matters because it was pure. There was little of it, but like faith the size of a mustard seed, it was enough to begin again. The light endured not because the oil itself was special, but because the people chose to return to God. God sustained the light after they made the costly decision to walk in His ways.

In that sense, the oil tells the story quietly. It reflects what happens when obedience precedes outcome, when devotion comes before assurance.

Hanukkah reminds us that restoration does not begin with abundance. It begins with repentance, courage, and rededication. When the Temple is set right, the light follows.

A timely lesson, especially when compromise feels easier than conviction.