In my mind the candles burning on my menorah on the first night of Chanukah were definitely not burning as brightly as they have in the past. In fact, nothing seems quite as sparkly or shiny as it did a little more than a year ago.
Ever since we spent some days in Israel during Chanukah, we immediately decided that we would light our menorah outside as well. I remember our menorah was always placed outside on our front porch in the snow with its candles shining brightly. We wanted to share with the world the miracle of our lights and our people. Now I just use a small tin menorah, light the candles and walk away (crying).
Turning to my phone to check my messages, one after the other I see the tragic story of the Winiarz family from Staten Island. Honestly and truly, does their story make any sense at all?
Once upon a time there was a mother, father and their 10 children. Rabbi Winiarz died in a car accident eight years ago and his wife was recently diagnosed with a form of cancer. Before there was even time to digest the news, she passed away. No matter how old these children are, how are they able to digest this tragedy? Is there supposed to be some solace in the fact that there are “only four still living at home?” Certainly not to me.
It is true that we have all lived through miracles in one way or the other. Most of us do not even acknowledge them. I remember as a child not being able to go to the playground because my parents were afraid that I would catch polio, which at the time was a fear in every parent’s mind. Wonder of wonders Dr. Jonas Salk announced that his research had been successful and every one of us was inoculated with the Salk vaccine. Who today knows anyone who has had polio, and what child today is not vaccinated?
Who ever could have imagined that a person could have an organ from another implanted into their body and their illness could be healed? Heart transplants? Kidney transplants? A slice of a liver given from one to another? These were concepts that were never considered years ago and now these medical procedures are taken for granted.
Children today will not even bat an eyelash when they hear someone is walking on the moon. Driving in a car without a driver (not something I would like to experience), babies being born through in vitro fertilization, freezing one’s eggs, whoa!!! Who would have ever dreamt of these miracles?
Yet when tragedies occur that involve love and families and relationships I wonder where the miracles are in these situations. Lung cancer diagnosed four weeks prior to my Mordechai’s death while he constantly went to doctors for check-ups for years prior. A mother whose family was solely dependent upon her suddenly dying from a ravaging illness. These tragic situations leave me wondering selfishly why miracles should not be occurring more frequently, and in our own lives.
I am assuming there are very few people who do not, at some time in their lives, need a miracle. We are all faced with different kinds of challenges. Yet in this week of the nes gadol (the biggest miracle of Chanukah), I pray that we can all be a part of miracles that directly affect us. We so need them.
Nina Glick can be reached at [email protected].
