Jimmy Carter was the first US President to participate in a public menorah lighting ceremony. During the height of the Iran Hostage Crisis, he left the White House for the first time on December 17, 1979 to participate in the lighting of the first National Menorah.
It was the fourth night of Chanukah, and the beleaguered president spoke of the Chanukah lights as a source of confidence for the future. As the ceremony was winding down, President Carter looked at the four lights of the menorah (plus the Shamash), and asked, “Why don’t we light them all? Wouldn’t it look better if they were all lit?”
Incidentally, I sometimes receive a funny “Good Samaritan” message along similar lines, when a well-meaning non-Jew calls our office to let us know that some of the candles in our menorah are “broken,” when, in fact, it is the fourth or fifth night of Chanukah.
But, what about the actual question? Is it not better to add more light? Why not illuminate all 8 candles of the menorah and demonstrate the triumph of light over darkness every day of the festival?
The Talmudic Sages instituted the holiday of Chanukah. Certainly, they must have taken this into account. Why did they prefer to establish a gradual progression, adding one candle every day?
An insight in this week’s parsha might help us understand Chanukah. In Parshat Vayeshev our hero is Yosef (Joseph), who is sold into slavery by his brothers. He ends up in Egypt as a servant in the home of Potiphar, the Pharaoh’s butcher. Potiphar’s wife is obsessed with the handsome servant, Yosef. She tries endlessly to seduce him. The Torah states, “And it was, as she spoke to Yosef day after day, he did not listen to her, to lie next to her; to be with her.”
Why does the Torah emphasize that she spoke with Yosef “day after day?”
The Talmud explains that each day she would entice him anew. The garments she wore for him in the evening were not the same she had worn for him in the morning. And, the next morning she would again change her clothing to entice him.
In other words, Yosef was plagued with an ongoing challenge that became harder and harder. Yesterday had its own challenges – which Yosef mastered. But, today a new test arose, different – and greater – than yesterday’s difficulties.
The Chassidic Masters compare this to the Yetzer Harah, the Evil Inclination. It constantly changes its presentation and tactics. Once you overcome one temptation, it slyly produces a new one. One day it might be frivolity. The next day depression might rear its ugly head. First it may encourage you toward stinginess. Then it might prompt you to Lashon Harah.
Each day has its own challenge. In fact, each era, and each generation, has its own challenge.
Yosef is called Yosef HaTzaddik, Joseph the Righteous, due to his remarkable strength of character in overcoming challenges. How did he do it?
One hint is offered in the verse quoted above. Yosef did not try to solve the entirety of life ahead. He focused on today’s challenge. And, the next day, he focused on that challenge. Each day is manageable – indeed conquerable – when viewed independently. Throughout it all, he amassed a formidable inner fortitude, pocketing spiritual gains and brightening his life.
The progression of every Jew mirrors the progression of the Jewish people.
Throughout history, we have been continuously adding another candle. At times, we look ahead at darkness – at unlit candles. We may wonder how we can prevail when the darkness seems to extend perpetually.
We ought to take a page out of Yosef’s book. And, the Maccabee’s book. And, the book of the Talmud.
Each day, our duty is to shine a light. To act more holy. To do just one more mitzvah. To say no to our impulses just one time.
The impulses and pressures of Hellenism aren’t around today. Our ancestors already lit that candle.
Today, however, we have our own forces of coercion. Our own insecurities and urges.
And, it’s time for us to light our candle. To do one more mitzvah.
Don’t worry about lighting all the candles. That’s an alarming and formidable task. You might just give up.
If we light today’s candle, we can be assured that – one by one – every candle will be lit.
Indeed, at the end of Chanukah, light triumphs completely over darkness.
The end, a world replete with light, is indeed in sight.