JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas –
With the grace of G-d and thanks to the Joint Base San Antonio Fort Sam Houston Religious Support Office and the Military and Family Readiness Center, we have a place to hold our services. So join us on Fridays at 6 p.m. at the M&FRC at 3060 Stanley Road for the weekly Shabbat service.
This news came just in time for the Jewish Holiday of Chanukah, which begins on Sunday evening, December 18, 2022, after nightfall and ends on Monday, December 26, 2022, at Sunset.
Chanukah, the eight-day festival of light that begins on the eve of the 25th of the Jewish month of Kislev, celebrates the victory of light over might – when the small Jewish nation of Israel prevailed over the tyrannical Assyrian Greek Empire.
Chanukah signifies the determination of the Jews to be free to practice their religion and beliefs without impediment. It celebrates the freedom of religion and is a time of thanksgiving for the blessings of liberty and self-determination.
More than 21 centuries ago, the Greeks ruled the holy land of Israel. They forcefully sought to Hellenize the people of Israel. Against all odds, a small band of faithful Jews – the Chashmonaim – defeated one of the mightiest armies on earth, drove the Greeks from the land, reclaimed the holy temple in Jerusalem, and rededicated it to the service of God.
When they sought to light the temple's menorah, they found only a single cruse of olive oil that had escaped contamination by the Greeks. Miraculously, the one-day supply burned for eight days, until new oil could be prepared under conditions of ritual purity.
To commemorate and publicize these miracles, the sages instituted the festival of Chanukah. At the heart of the festival is the nightly menorah lighting, a single flame on the first night, two on the second evening, and so on until the eighth night of Chanukah, when all eight lights are kindled.
In addition to the menorahs placed in the doorways and windows of Jewish homes, the sages instituted the practice of lighting the menorah in public places in order to further publicize the Chanukah miracle and to maximize the reach of the radiance of the Chanukah lights and to publicly proclaim the timeless message of the Chanukah victory of light over darkness.
Immediately after arriving in this country, America’s settlers laid the foundation; they proclaimed a holiday of thanksgiving to God for bringing them to a secure land and saving them from religious oppression. This faith in God has been celebrated in America every generation since.
In recent years, the President himself has publicly recognized the Chanukah Menorah. Reminding all Americans that lighting the Menorah publicly keeps the true spirit of this country alive, to fight tyranny and save the righteous from the hands of the wicked.
The purpose of the Menorah is to give light, light to glow, light to see, to light one’s path, to light a path to a better future. A future not of war, but rather of light a bright light a beacon of light.
We are reminded of the words of the biblical prophet Zachariah, who in his vision, gazed wondrously at the Menorah of the Temple, to be told by an angle “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”
Curiously enough, the Menorah in his vision was adorned on both sides with olive branches. Olives – which give us oil to light, olive branches – a universal symbol of peace.
The U.S. military is the most respected and revered institution in America, and we have the privilege to serve bravely and on-point in support of the country, fighting to thwart the hand of evil, and persevering to promote freedom, you are indeed modern-day Maccabees, the heroes of the Chanukah story who fought against all odds to vanquish tyrannical oppression, restore and ensure religious freedom.
This is what you do on a regular basis, reliably and honorably so. Our nation could not be more proud of you and your selfless service. Never fear, and forever take to heart that a little light dispels much darkness. Such is the lesson of the ancient Chanukah candles that we light until this day
Furthermore, we light these candles in ever-increasing number from day to day throughout Chanukah symbolizing that we should always be on the rise, going from strength to strength, adding yet more light to dispel that much more darkness.
As you serve to share the light of freedom around the world, we collectively pray that this year’s Chanukah holiday is one of joy and celebration for you and your family. May we all be “a light unto the nations” – as we strive and pray for a world redeemed, speedily in our days.
To our brothers and sisters serving in the Armed Forces of the United States of America, wherever they find themselves during this holiday, we extend the warmest greetings and blessings for a happy holiday season.
As you find yourself in the JBSA-Fort Sam Houston area, we look forward to seeing you at a weekly service, Torah class, or an inspiring Shabbat dinner.