Hanukkah drives away the darkness

We learn in the Talmud that when the Maccabees recaptured the holy Temple in Jerusalem from the Greek Syrians in 165 B.C.E. they immediately set out to purify it from the three years of defilement and pollution. This included relighting the lamp (menorah) with oil dedicated for that purpose by the priests (kohanim) who served in the Temple. 
But with the priests unable to serve for three years only one small cruse was found and it would take eight days to prepare additional oil. Nevertheless the oil was lit and miraculously the oil burned for the eight days until new oil was ready.  Consequently Hanukkah, like so many holidays, is celebrated as a time for family gatherings when traditional foods are served — latkes (potato pancakes) or soofganiyot (fried jelly doughnuts) — which are consumed in remembrance of the miracle of the cruse of oil. 
  But what was the miracle? It is easy to assume that the miracle was that the oil continued to burn all eight days. However I prefer to think that the miracle was the faith of our ancestors — few in numbers challenged by an entire empire – that not only recaptured the Temple but took the steps necessary to rekindle the flames.
  One of the popular Hanukkah songs sung by my children while growing up in Israel states, “We have come to drive away the darkness.” During these difficult times for all people who care about freedom and justice — regardless of their political opinions, religious beliefs, ethnic background or race — Hanukkah should inspire us to have the strength to have faith in humanity that we too will drive away the darkness.
  In the Jewish community we will praise and thank God for helping us do that just that each night of Hanukkah. But since we are all responsible for driving away the darkness we need to turn to our neighbors and ask how we will do this together. When we have done that we will be able to celebrate Hanukkah as it was meant to be celebrated — the festival of lights symbolizing the triumph of good over evil.
  Hanukkah Sameah — a very happy Hanukkah.