RABBI YOSSI JACOBS

SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 31

JEWS have a biblical command to remember the exodus from Egypt every day of their lives.

We do this by mentioning it in our prayers each morning and evening and by thanking God for this miracle.

There is another command during the festival of Pesach (Passover) to speak about the exodus from Egypt.

This command is fulfilled as we sit down together with our families and talk and discuss the exodus from Egypt all those years ago and what kind of relevance it actually holds for us today.

We ask why, if we have the daily command to remember the going out of Egypt, do we need the second command during the week of Passover to speak about the exodus as well? Surely the daily remembrance should suffice?

I believe that there is a great necessity for both of these commandments.

Yes, it is important to remember on a daily basis this great and historic event.

But once a year it is incumbent upon us to also speak about it.

To keep the subject pertinent and alive, every so often we must do more than just remember - we must relive it.

With National Holocaust Day coming up, you could say that we remember the Holocaust and its effects every day.

Not only the survivors but all of us who are descendants of survivors because we too are survivors. Therefore why the need for a specific Holocaust day?

I would answer that yes, we remember the Holocaust every day. We remember the suffering and hatred towards Jews and other minorities.

But it's important for us as a society to once a year do a little bit more than that. And to me that is what Holocaust day is all about.

It's about coming together as a community, as a city and as a country and in unison with one voice we remember the tragedy of the past.

Pay tribute and respect to those who lost their lives and we make a strong pledge together to never allow this to happen to any human beings irrespective of their colour or creed, religion or race.

Many stood by last time and watched. We as human beings have grown since then and must never allow such an atrocity to happen again.

Candles mark victory over persecution;
Faiths IN OUR CITY

RABBI YOSSI JACOBS
SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 31

THIS week the Jewish community is celebrating the festival of Chanukah - the festival of lights.

Dating back over 2,000 years, the story of Chanukah commemorates the victory of religious freedom.

It was in the time when the land of Israel was part of the Syrian empire, under the rule of King Antiochus IV and life began to get tough for the Jewish people.

Jews were being forced to convert to Hellenism and the Greek way of life. With religious tradition and observance not allowed to be practised, Jews were being forced to convert.

After a battle of a small Jewish army called the Maccabees led by Judah Hamaccabee and his brothers, the Jews were victorious and religious freedom once again reigned.

At that time the temple stood in Jerusalem and its service could once again resume. Part of the daily service in the Temple was the lighting of the Menorah - candelabra by the high priest. This was done with pure olive oil which had been pressed by and bore the seal of the high priest himself.

When the Jews returned to their holy temple they found it in complete havoc, with everything having been tampered with.

Eager to begin straight away by lighting the Menorah, they looked to find bottles of oil with the seal of the high priest.

Only able to find one small jar with enough oil to last for one night, worry arose because it would take eight days for more oil to be produced.

A miracle occurred and this small jar of oil that should only have lasted for one day actually ended up lasting for eight days.

Hence we now celebrate this miracle today by joining with our families and communities and lighting the Menorah together each night for eight nights. In doing so we try to light up the darkness.

However, what remains unique is that the persecution was a religious and spiritual one not a physical one. The Greeks only wanted the Jews to convert not to be killed. Therefore our celebration is a spiritual one.

So as I light the candles this year in this multi-cultural city that I feel privileged to live in, I will look around at all the religions celebrating their own festivals at this time of year, each with their own decorations and I will thank God for giving us all the freedom to openly observe and enjoy our holidays and traditions.