Part of the happiness of Hanukkah (beyond the delicious latkes and sufganiyot, of course) is knowing our purpose, which is a crucial ingredient for experiencing simcha (Jewish joy).
In his amazing book Man’s Search for Meaning, Holocaust survivor Viktor E. Frankl (z’l) details his life philosophy. A man who suffered through the worst life has to offer realized:
Man’s search for meaning is the primary motivation in his life and not a ‘secondary rationalization’ of instinctual drives. This meaning is unique and specific in that it must and can be fulfilled by him alone; only then does it achieve a significance which will satisfy his own will to meaning (page 121 in the paperback edition).
How does this relate to Hanukkah?
One of the catchiest and most popular Hanukkah songs notes:
בנו חושך לגרש (We came to banish the darkness)
This Jewish call to action reminds us of our purpose (and thus indirectly teaches us how to achieve simcha): to banish the darkness. But what does it mean to “banish the darkness?” As Frankel notes, everyone will find a unique and specific cause that is near and dear to his/her heart.
For some Jews, banishing the darkness might mean working to help feed the homeless. Others might devote their time and energies to running their shul/beit knesset, or volunteering/working in the school system.
As Rabbi Jonathan Sacks writes in his wonderful book Celebrating Life:
Happiness is elusive. You do not find it by pursuing it. Pursuing other things, it finds you – always provided that you are pursuing the right things (page 12 of the paperback edition).
What are some of the “right things” that you are pursuing?
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On another level, Hanukkah is of course about the liberation of the Land of Israel from a repressive Greek regime. The story of Hanukkah is a story of triumph – of Jews fighting for sovereignty.
Unfortunately, that sovereignty was lost for thousands of years. Generations of Jews never even set eyes on the Holy Land. And yet I get to do something every day that the greatest Jew of all time, Moshe Rabbeinu (Moses) wasn’t able to do: enjoy the amazing sights, sounds and experiences of Eretz Yisrael (The Land of Israel).
How can that amazing opportunity fail to make me happy!?
Tying my two ideas together, making Aliyah nearly 14 years ago gave my life tremendous meaning. I now have a wonderful Israeli wife and three extremely “active” Israeli kids that correct my Hebrew on a daily basis. I was able to dramatically change the future direction of my family so that my kids and I will naturally speak the language of our people (or try to, in my case) and organically live our lives according to the Jewish calendar and current events.
Hopefully I’ll be able to impart to them their duty to banish the darkness and help light up the world.
Happy Hanukkah!
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