There is no easy explanation for the continued existence of the Jewish People. Despite the lies being spread by our adversaries, Jews indeed have existed for millennia, and indeed were the native residents of the Land of Israel. The Temple was real, as attested to by overwhelming historical evidence, and Hanukkah really happened.
But centuries of exile, of persecutions, pogroms, inquisitions and the Holocaust, plus rampant assimilation where Jews were made to feel more welcome, should have pretty much erased our unique identity. And yet here we are, celebrating a military and spiritual victory of more than two thousand years ago! We have been doing so continuously!
What is the secret of our endurance, and how can we ensure that our children remain in the fold? The answer is in HOW we light the Chanuka candles.
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