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Miracles Then and Now
A page of Talmud. Photo: Chajm Guski/Wikimedia
JNS.org – Would you believe that it took a whole year for Chanukah to be recognized as a bona fide Jewish festival?
But it’s true. Here’s a quote straight out of the Talmud in Shabbos (21a). After telling the basic Chanukah story, the Talmud adds, “The next year, the Sages established those days and made them holy days with the recitation of Hallel and special thanksgiving prayers and blessings.”
Why did they wait a whole year? Surely, everyone saw then and there, with their own eyes, the great miracle of the one jug of oil that lasted eight days, and the astounding military victory of a bunch of untrained priests taking on the vastly superior Greek army and defeating them. Why did it take a year for Chanukah to be accepted as a festival worthy of an annual celebration?
It would appear that our sages understood that enthusiasm can evaporate rather easily with the passage of time. The excitement and inspiration of the miraculous Maccabean victory could have faded and been forgotten all too soon. That’s why they deliberately waited to see if the people would still be inspired by the previous year’s miracle. When they saw that the inspiration was indeed being sustained, they proudly proclaimed the “Festival of Lights,” and Chanukah became a Yom Tov for posterity.
Have we not seen it in our own generation? Israel has experienced miracles of biblical proportions such as its victory in the 1967 Six-Day War, the hostage rescue at Entebbe in 1976, and, recently, the failed Iranian missile attacks and the astonishing success of the pager explosions against Hezbollah this past year.
These were all incredible miracles of the highest order, but it’s all old news already. We were in awe momentarily, and now it’s all taken for granted. We give credit to Tzahal, the Mossad and all of Israel’s brilliant minds who took part in these efforts, as well as the brave forces on the ground and in the air—as we should. But with all their talents, a million things could have gone wrong. The fact that it all went so smoothly surely points to a higher force beyond our control.
It’s no different in business, communal work or marriage. It doesn’t take long for the initial excitement to fade away and the humdrum of routines to set in, gradually leading to disillusionment and then, all too quickly, to dissolution.
It’s interesting that God chose His very first revelation to Moses to be at the Burning Bush. Miraculously, the bush was covered in flames, but it would not be consumed. What a lesson to the new leader.
Don’t ever get burned out! You’re becoming a leader now. You will have to deal with Pharaoh and his Egyptian superpower, the evil Amalek and other warrior nations who will attack you. And Jews aren’t the easiest to deal with either. Your own people will complain about all sorts of things, justifiable or not. Even a mutiny or two will be on your agenda. But remember the bush, Moses. Learn from the bush. Keep the fire burning!
In the Chanukah story, our people remained inspired and on a spiritual high all that year. The light of the menorah never dimmed, and their enthusiasm never waned. When the sages saw this, they ruled that the events of a year ago were now worthy of being commemorated annually and becoming fixed in the Jewish calendar forever.
Chanukah means “dedication.” The Maccabees rededicated our holy Temple after the Greeks defiled it. Throughout this next week, if we rededicate ourselves to kindling the lights of our menorahs around the world, then our own celebrations will likewise be granted the blessings of posterity and eternity.
We live in traumatic but miraculous times. Big things are happening in the world, and we really do have reasons to hope for a new world order where Israel and the Jewish people will be safe and respected.
May we remember all the miracles we have been privileged to experience. May there be no burn-out, no weakness and no faltering as we progress to the finishing line. May we remain fiery and faithful in the service of our God and our people, illuminate the darkness of our world and usher in the lighting of a new menorah in a rebuilt Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Amen.
Chanukah Sameach!
The post Miracles Then and Now first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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After False Dawns, Gazans Hope Trump Will Force End to Two-Year-Old War
Palestinians walk past a residential building destroyed in previous Israeli strikes, after Hamas agreed to release hostages and accept some other terms in a US plan to end the war, in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa
Exhausted Palestinians in Gaza clung to hopes on Saturday that US President Donald Trump would keep up pressure on Israel to end a two-year-old war that has killed tens of thousands and displaced the entire population of more than two million.
Hamas’ declaration that it was ready to hand over hostages and accept some terms of Trump’s plan to end the conflict while calling for more talks on several key issues was greeted with relief in the enclave, where most homes are now in ruins.
“It’s happy news, it saves those who are still alive,” said 32-year-old Saoud Qarneyta, reacting to Hamas’ response and Trump’s intervention. “This is enough. Houses have been damaged, everything has been damaged, what is left? Nothing.”
GAZAN RESIDENT HOPES ‘WE WILL BE DONE WITH WARS’
Ismail Zayda, 40, a father of three, displaced from a suburb in northern Gaza City where Israel launched a full-scale ground operation last month, said: “We want President Trump to keep pushing for an end to the war, if this chance is lost, it means that Gaza City will be destroyed by Israel and we might not survive.
“Enough, two years of bombardment, death and starvation. Enough,” he told Reuters on a social media chat.
“God willing this will be the last war. We will hopefully be done with the wars,” said 59-year-old Ali Ahmad, speaking in one of the tented camps where most Palestinians now live.
“We urge all sides not to backtrack. Every day of delay costs lives in Gaza, it is not just time wasted, lives get wasted too,” said Tamer Al-Burai, a Gaza City businessman displaced with members of his family in central Gaza Strip.
After two previous ceasefires — one near the start of the war and another earlier this year — lasted only a few weeks, he said; “I am very optimistic this time, maybe Trump’s seeking to be remembered as a man of peace, will bring us real peace this time.”
RESIDENT WORRIES THAT NETANYAHU WILL ‘SABOTAGE’ DEAL
Some voiced hopes of returning to their homes, but the Israeli military issued a fresh warning to Gazans on Saturday to stay out of Gaza City, describing it as a “dangerous combat zone.”
Gazans have faced previous false dawns during the past two years, when Trump and others declared at several points during on-off negotiations between Hamas, Israel and Arab and US mediators that a deal was close, only for war to rage on.
“Will it happen? Can we trust Trump? Maybe we trust Trump, but will Netanyahu abide this time? He has always sabotaged everything and continued the war. I hope he ends it now,” said Aya, 31, who was displaced with her family to Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.
She added: “Maybe there is a chance the war ends at October 7, two years after it began.”
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Mass Rally in Rome on Fourth Day of Italy’s Pro-Palestinian Protests
A Pro-Palestinian demonstrator waves a Palestinian flag during a national protest for Gaza in Rome, Italy, October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Claudia Greco
Large crowds assembled in central Rome on Saturday for the fourth straight day of protests in Italy since Israel intercepted an international flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza, and detained its activists.
People holding banners and Palestinian flags, chanting “Free Palestine” and other slogans, filed past the Colosseum, taking part in a march that organizers hoped would attract at least 1 million people.
“I’m here with a lot of other friends because I think it is important for us all to mobilize individually,” Francesco Galtieri, a 65-year-old musician from Rome, said. “If we don’t all mobilize, then nothing will change.”
Since Israel started blocking the flotilla late on Wednesday, protests have sprung up across Europe and in other parts of the world, but in Italy they have been a daily occurrence, in multiple cities.
On Friday, unions called a general strike in support of the flotilla, with demonstrations across the country that attracted more than 2 million, according to organizers. The interior ministry estimated attendance at around 400,000.
Italy’s right-wing government has been critical of the protests, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suggesting that people would skip work for Gaza just as an excuse for a longer weekend break.
On Saturday, Meloni blamed protesters for insulting graffiti that appeared on a statue of the late Pope John Paul II outside Rome’s main train station, where Pro-Palestinian groups have been holding a protest picket.
“They say they are taking to the streets for peace, but then they insult the memory of a man who was a true defender and builder of peace. A shameful act committed by people blinded by ideology,” she said in a statement.
Israel launched its Gaza offensive after Hamas terrorists staged a cross border attack on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 people hostage.
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Hamas Says It Agrees to Release All Israeli Hostages Under Trump Gaza Plan
Smoke rises during an Israeli military operation in Gaza City, as seen from the central Gaza Strip, October 2, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas
Hamas said on Friday it had agreed to release all Israeli hostages, alive or dead, under the terms of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza proposal, and signaled readiness to immediately enter mediated negotiations to discuss the details.