Though it’s hard to do in New York City, the original intention of the rabbis of the Talmud was that we would place our Hanukkiah right outside our front doorway for the world to see (although placing it in the window, even for the rabbis, was an okay substitute). The goal of the ritual was to show the light of the Hanukkiah with the entire world, for the purpose of pirsumei nisa: “publicizing the miracle.” Yet at the same time, this is a ritual we perform at home; even if we light candles at synagogue or in some other public space, we are still supposed to make sure we have lit them at home, too. Maybe “publicizing the miracle” is not only about sharing the story of the miracle of the oil and the Maccabees with the world, but also about finding a way to share our unique Jewish light – and the light of our home, our family, and our friends – with the broader world.
As you light your own private candles tonight, find a way to make sure they can be seen. What miracles are you publicizing?
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