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Updated on December 19, 2001

A Chanukah-inspired song...Sound Clip by SHUVA!

And the words of Torah that inspired this song...

If there was enough oil for one day, then only seven days were miracles.  Why do we celebrate EIGHT days?  Why the extra day?

One answer is that the extra day is for the miraculous war.  Another answer is that each day only 1/8 of the oil burned. However,Rabbi Simcha Zissel, of blessed memory, suggests a beautiful lesson.  This is to teach us that even what we see as nature, is also miraculous.  Why should oil burn and not vinegar?   Only because Hashem made it this way.  We merely call miraculous what seems different from what we have come to expect.  Certainly, for Hashem, there is no difference between miracles and nature.  The issue is how we perceive things.

H A P P Y   C H A N U K A H !!!

Post-Chanukah Thoughts

The following is from my column in the newsletter of the Alliance of Jewish Young Adults, December 2001 (Vol. 2, Number 1).  I have the privilege to serve as the spiritual advisor to this group.

Does it have to be over? Must we resign ourselves to merely looking forward to next year? If we want to bring Chanukah into the rest of the year, we have to understand what it is that makes Chanukah so special. Is it latkes, candles and presents? No, of course it isn't. But is that the Chanukah we give our children? Chanukah is the story of Jews who were proud to be Jewish, to act Jewish and to think Jewish. They risked their lives to keep the Sabbath and eat kosher. Chanukah is about feeling that our Jewishness is the essence of our identity, our purpose, and that we will never allow any people or culture to take away what makes us unique. The message of Chanukah is forceful and timely, but that time is not limited to 8 days. It is an approach to life that must be nurtured all year round, every day, in the choices that we make, and the choices that we don't make. If we relegate Chanukah to latkes, candles and presents, then we have robbed our children and ourselves of our eternity, our identity, our essence, our purpose.

This chanukah page is dedicated to the memory of Shmuel Aryeh HaLevi Muskal, z"l.  Posted on the day of his funeral, the 1st day of Chanukah, 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev, 5758 (December 24, 1997).

Song Lyrics

Miracles
Written by Mendel Singer; All rights reserved (including copyrights)

Miracles are everywhere, Everywhere and everyday
Sometimes they announce themselves, Sometimes they can hide
You can often see them if you try
Look at everything you have, Soon I'm sure you'll say
Miracles are everywhere and everyday

Shuva!
Chaim Davis - Keyboard, vocals, harmony
Mendel Singer - Guitar, vocals

More sound clips from Shuva!