Hannukkah, the Jewish festival of lights, where a candle is lit for eight days, and the Australian tradition of carols by candlelight have been fused together by tragic terror this year.
Hannukkah and our Christian tradition of carolling by candlelight have existed side by side since radio announcer, Melbourne’s Norman Banks, began the carol tradition in 1938. On Christmas Eve in 1937, he passed a window and noticed an elderly woman singing to ‘Away in a Manger’ on the radio, and he set up carols by candlelight the next year so no-one would have to sing alone.
Christians celebrate “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.” Many churches have an Advent candle in the season that leads into Christmas, and others have adopted carolling by candlelight.
Jews celebrate a miracle that occurred as a small band rededicated the temple, but had only enough oil for one night – yet their Menorah stayed alight for eight.
Rabbi Benjamin Elton of Sydney’s The Great Synagogue suggests that Christians light a Chanukah candle or engage in tangible acts of charity to fight the darkness with light.
This year, our candles will have a double meaning, layering hope, solidarity, mourning and worship.
Psalm 140 turned up in my reading for today:
Rescue me, Lord, from evildoers;
protect me from the violent,
who devise evil plans in their hearts
and stir up war every day.
They make their tongues as sharp as a serpent’s;
the poison of vipers is on their lips.
Keep me safe, Lord, from the hands of the wicked;
protect me from the violent,
who devise ways to trip my feet.
The arrogant have hidden a snare for me;
they have spread out the cords of their net
and have set traps for me along my path.
I say to the Lord, “You are my God.”
Hear, Lord, my cry for mercy.
Sovereign Lord, my strong deliverer,
you shield my head in the day of battle.
Do not grant the wicked their desires, Lord;
do not let their plans succeed.
Image Credit: DocklandsTony