There is a law about Chanukah I find moving and profound. Maimonides writes that ‘the command of Chanukah lights is very precious. One who lacks the money to buy lights should sell something, or if necessary borrow, so as to be able to fulfil the mitzvah.’
The question then arises, What if, on Friday afternoon, you find yourself with only one candle? What do you light it as — a Shabbat candle or a Chanukah one? It can’t be both. Logic suggests that you should light it as a Chanukah candle. After all, there is no law that you have to sell or borrow to light lights for Shabbat. Yet the law is that, if faced with such a choice, you light it as a Shabbat light. Why?
Listen to Maimonides: ‘The Shabbat light takes priority because it symbolises shalom bayit, domestic peace. And great is peace because the entire Torah was given in order to make peace in the world.’
Consider: Chanukah commemorates one of the greatest military victories in Jewish history. Yet Jewish law rules that if we can only light one candle — the Shabbat light takes precedence, because in Judaism the greatest military victory takes second place to peace in the home.
Why did Judaism, alone among the civilisations of the ancient world, survive? Because it valued the home more than the battlefield, marriage more than military grandeur, and children more than generals. Peace in the home mattered to our ancestors more than the greatest military victory.
So as we celebrate Chanukah, spare a thought for the real victory, which was not military but spiritual. Jews were the people who valued marriage, the home, and peace between husband and wife, above the highest glory on the battlefield. In Judaism, the light of peace takes precedence over the light of war.
SHARE
More from Chanukah Thoughts

Inspired by Faith, we can Change the World
8 Thoughts for 8 Chanukah nights (1)

The Light of the Spirit Never Dies
8 thoughts for 8 Chanukah nights (2)

Chanukah in Our Time
8 thoughts for 8 Chanukah nights (3)

The First Clash of Civilisations
8 thoughts for 8 Chanukah nights (4)

The Third Miracle
8 thoughts for 8 Chanukah nights (6)

Inside / Outside
8 thoughts for 8 Chanukah nights (7)

To Light Another Light
8 thoughts for 8 Chanukah nights (8)