Hanukkah reminds us all of the importance of light

We take light for granted in this modern world. Perhaps that's why it is easy for modern men, women and children to become blas & eacute; about an observance such as Hanukkah.
Last night, Jews throughout the world lighted the first of the eight candles on their menorahs. And in Chabad, Nevada, Rabbi Yisroel Schanowitz put the first bulb into the two-foot high menorah that is mounted on the top of his car and powered by the cigarette lighter.
Tonight, and for each of the six nights following, an additional candle will be lighted (or bulb installed) until all eight candles shine brightly.
Not all would approve
Some would take exception to Rabbi Schanowitz's car-top display as an excess, as an example of how Hanukkah is in danger of becoming too much like the holiday that dominates December in much of the world, Christmas. Indeed, there are plenty of Christians who worry about what a culture of excess could do -- or has already done -- to Christmas.
Rabbi Schanowitz seems unafraid. "It draws people's attention," he is quoted as saying in a Scripps Howard story. The menorah reads, "Chabad wishes you a Happy Hanukkah."
"It celebrates light over darkness, freedom over oppression and spirit over matter," Schanowitz says.. "The message is that even a small amount of light can outshine lots of darkness."
And that's an important message to convey -- to everyone, not just to Jews.
If people who see menorahs -- in stores, in homes, even atop cars -- don't necessarily understand that Hanukkah is not really among the most important days on the Jewish calendar, that is their loss. Anyone among us could profit by understanding a bit more of what others who share this planet believe or don't believe.
As to Hanukkah, it celebrates the victory of a small band of Jews, led by Judah the Maccabee, who defeated the militarily stronger Syrian Greeks about 2,220 years ago.
After the Jews succeeded in recapturing Jerusalem, they started the process of purifying their Temple, which had been desecrated by idol worship. Burning pure olive oil was part of the process, but there was only a one-day supply. It would take eight days to produce fresh oil.
Nonetheless, the lamp was lighted, and it burned steadily not for one day, but for eight.
Thus was born the Festival of Lights.
Changing light
As we said, light today is taken for granted. It is ours for the flicking of a switch. We have lighted some of our cities so well, that we can no longer see the stars without moving to the country.
But without so much as the flickering light of a lamp, earlier people had no control over their environment. They worked from dawn to dusk and then passed the night in darkness.
While Hanukkah is only the third-most observed Jewish holiday in the United States, behind Passover and Yom Kippur, and is less significant under Jewish law than those two holidays and four others, including the weekly Sabbath and Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, its spirit is important.
Any holiday that reminds all people -- regardless of their religion -- that light is better than darkness, knowledge is better than ignorance, love is better than hate, is worthy of note.
To those who have celebrated for more than two millennia the never-ending importance of light, Happy Hanukkah.