A Chanukah Message From Steve Kleber

Hanukkah means dedication, and as we celebrate this festive holiday and remember the story, it renews our commitment to dedicate ourselves to help keep the right of religious freedom alive for all.

The story of Hanukkah is the first recorded “fight” for religious freedom, and although it took place over 1,000 years ago, its message is still so very important and the conflicts surrounding our Jewish homeland remain just as relevant today. The Judaeans were ruled by the Syrian Greeks at the time and our ancestors practiced patience for their laws until the Syrian soldiers desecrated the holy Temple and its religious institutions. The Maccabees formed a small army – really a “band of fighters.” Even though very small in number, untrained in warfare and without real weapons, … they fought not for land; instead, to win their religious rights back. And in that victory, they demonstrated that “right” truly can win over “might.”

When we celebrate Hanukkah, we think about how we, too, can help restore religious rights to all. The story tells of how the Maccabees could only find a small bit of pure oil to light the eternal flame, but “a great miracle happened” and the oil lasted eight days and nights … which reminds us of the patience that is still required in our society today. As long as we dedicate ourselves to use our freedom wisely and live by the teachings of Judaism, the miracle will never end.

Steve Kleber is president and founder of Kleber & Associates, president of the National Remodeling Foundation and the immediate past president of the Center for Kitchen and Bath Education and Research.