ON THE SECOND NIGHT OF HANUKKAH IN OUR HOUSEHOLD we tell the following folk tale which illustrates the miracle of human sharing.
A LONG TIME AGO JAKE AND HIS WIFE ESPERA were escaping persecution in Portugal. They fled to the Holy Lands where they could experience freedom to worship in the public synagogue. Shortly after arriving Jake was impressed by a Rabbi's story of a time before the destruction of the temple when families brought 12 extra loaves of hallot bread to the temple for a sacrifice. When he returned home with his wife he told her of an inspiration to offer to God such a sacrifice even though it was not longer the custom to do so.
THAT FRIDAY AFTERNOON he went quietly to the synagogue with 12 loaves of freshly baked hallot and placed them in the Ark where the Torah scrolls were kept. WHAT HE DID NOT KNOW is that the janitor came to clean the synagogue shortly after he left. That day the janitor was very sad. His job did not pay enough to feed his growing family. He was in tears as he was not able to find another job and cried out to God as he opened the Ark to clean it. To his amazement he found Jacob's family offering to God which he immediately accepted as what he assumed was a gift from God himself.
THIS HABIT CONTINUED for weeks, months and even years. Finally after nearly 30 years of both families giving and receiving this miracle the Rabbi was one day in the synagogue when Jake entered to place his sacrifice in the ARK. As he turned to leave the Rabbi startled him by quietly placing his hand on his shoulder. "So it is you who have tried to tell a poor man that God was giving him bread. " Jacob did not understand at first but the Rabbi motioned for him to follow him to hide behind a bench as the Janitor could be heard coming in the door. As they watched together the Janitor went to the Ark and opened it to take out the bread which he had been accustomed to finding there all these years. As he turned around Jacob let out a gasp. The three men began loudly discussing what had happened.
NO SOONER HAD THIS LOUD DISCUSSION started than the ARI, in a manner for which such an elder in the community is trained, invited the three men to visit him. With a smile and in a gentle voice he quickly explained the value of THE MIRACLE which had been taking place all these years. He explained that GOD was pleased and would be even more pleased if they would openly continue the exchange and courtesy of sharing the hallot bread between families in praise to GOD. He reminded the Rabbi that he had lived a long and prosperous life for having inspired Jacob to give generously without a thought for how God would see fit to use his sacrifice and as a result one family did not starve.
THE MIRACLE is in the giving AND in the receiving of gifts as well as in the telling of the tale which continues to inspire the MIRACLE OF SHARING EVEN TO THIS DAY!
AMEN.
THANK YOU GOD FOR BRINGING US TO THIS SEASON !
