When G-d gives you lemons

Chanukah celebrates the victory of the Jewish people over their Syrian-Greek oppressors who had defiled the Holy Temple in Jerusalem in the second century BCE.

The rededication of the Temple was highlighted by the kindling of the candelabra with a small amount of oil, an amount expected to last only one day. That oil miraculously lasted for eight days instead of one.

And as many believe, the menorah was “of pure gold,” just as G-d directed Moses to build it (Exodus 25; 31).

Except that this one wasn’t.

As it turns out, the Syrian Greeks didn’t just defile the Temple. They also looted it. When the Maccabees retook the Temple, they found the precious vessels and implements of the Temple missing (including the famed golden menorah). These things had been carted off to adorn some nobleman’s palace.

They could have called it quits right then and there. After all, G-d told them to kindle a golden menorah, and this they could not do. But the Maccabees realized something powerful: the golden menorah existed to serve as an implement with which to bring light into this world. But if that implement is gone, the light must still be lit. The show must go on.

So they built a menorah out of wood because that was what they had. And they lit the wooden menorah, and the oil miraculously lasted for eight days. But they didn’t lose track of the goal: to elevate the world. So when they scraped together some funds, they upgraded to a menorah made out of cheap metal. Later on, they were able to buy a silver one. And finally, they built a gold menorah once more (see Talmud Avodah Zarah 43a).

They did the best they could with what they had.

The saying, “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade” has truth to it. G-d gives each of us a unique set of circumstances, abilities, and resources. The Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, explained that the very fact that you find yourself in a difficult situation means that you have the unique power to elevate that situation.

If you have talents, you have the unique mission of elevating those talents by using them for good. If you have resources, you can use them to accomplish something positive. If you have silver, build a silver menorah. If you have gold, build a gold menorah. We aim high but work with what we have.

This Chanukah, my family will be celebrating the Bat Mitzvah of my daughter, Goldie. The Bat Mitzvah is a rite of passage for Jewish girls, celebrated upon their reaching the age of 12. It marks the age at which our little girl becomes a Jewish woman, with the opportunities and responsibilities that come along with that.

I’ve always thought of our Goldie as a Chanukah baby, and not just because she was born on the sixth day of the holiday. Like the Maccabees, Goldie has a knack for doing the best she can with the abilities and knowledge she possesses.

She demonstrated this at a tender age when she joined the annual Mega Challah Bake we host. With 250 women in the crowd, my wife Feigie asked if anyone was familiar with the challah-braiding technique, and could help others. Immediately, 5-year-old Goldie hopped on a chair and said “I know how to braid! I can help people!”

She could hardly reach the table. She couldn’t lift the bulky mixing bowls. But she didn’t get caught up in that. She was doing the best she could with what she had and gladly assisted others.

As my family and I celebrate Chanukah (and Goldie’s Bat Mitzvah) this year, I will be reflecting on how we all can use the resources G-d has given us to make the world around us a better place. Maybe we don’t have it all. Maybe our menorahs are made of tin or wood instead of silver or gold. But it’s our job to elevate what we do have.

Like Goldie — and like the Maccabees before her — let’s bring more light into the world, however we can.

Tucson faith leaders, we would like to include your original sermon or scriptures of encouragement. Sermons must be written by the person submitting them, not borrowed from another source or writer. If you are a faith leader from any religion or denomination, please contact Sara Brown at sbbrown@tucson.com.