Honoring the Heroes

I hope that your Hanukkah has been bright and full of wonder and joy. 

The Hanukkah menorah, of course, has nine candles – one for each night of the holiday and the shamash.  The eight candles represent the legendary Hanukkah miracle – a jar of oil lasting much longer than expected.  But what about the shamash?  

Shamash means “helper.”  It is also the word for a synagogue aide employed to help the rabbi and cantor during services; it is a role most typical in ages past and more traditional settings. The shamash at a synagogue might assign honors, call up honorees and make sure everybody has a seat and prayerbook. 

The shamash on the menorah has a similar role.  The other candles’ purpose is celebrating the miracle; they aren’t meant for practical purposes – like providing reading light or lighting other candles.   The Shamash takes on this responsibility.  It is used to light all the other candles. Typically, it is placed separately on the menorah, usually at a different height or off-set from the other candles.  Its placement does not indicate it is more important than the other candles; in fact, its purpose is secondary.

All the other candles are honored with a day of Hanukkah.  Only the shamash has not have a day devoted to it.  A new “movement” of sorts, though, has begun to assign greater purpose to the shamash.   Author Erica Perl wrote a children’s book last year entitled “The 9th Night of Hanukkah.”  In the story, she suggests that we should devote a day to honoring the shamash.  Or, more accurately, we should devote a day of Hanukkah to honoring the helpers in our community.

Erica’s idea has begun to take off!  Some synagogues have begun holding programs on the day after Hanukkah officially ends to honor helpers in the community.   Some families have begun to extend their Hanukkah by a day to honor helpers in their lives.  As we approach the end of Hanukkah, think about the helpers that you know.  What can you do to acknowledge them and let them know that they are appreciated?  This is a great question to ask your children and grandchildren on, you guessed it, the 9th night of Hanukkah.   

Shabbat shalom and happy Hanukkah!
Rabbi Debbie Cohen