The menorah has been a Jewish symbol for thousands of years. And in the darkest times of the Holocaust, it gave some Jews enough hope to keep surviving.
The Menorah and Hanukkah
The miracle of Hanukkah is fascinating. After liberating Jerusalem, the Jews wanted to light the menorah in the Temple. Despite only having enough oil to last for one day, G-d made it that the oil lasted for eight days. That is just one of the many miracles in the story of Hanukkah.
And the light of Hanukkah still exists. The miracles still exist. The feeling of hope when all else feels lost still exists.
Hanukkah During the Holocaust
Celebrating Hanukkah during the Holocaust in a concentration camp seems impossible. But there were Jews who did everything they could to make it happen. And for Jews in Bergen Belson, it gave them a spark of light and strength in the Hell of the Nazi camp. One rabbi decided he wanted to give Jews the hope to survive. And G-d sent him a miracle. Finding the buried oil in the ground is a Hanukkah miracle. It was a kiss from G-d.
This story is beyond inspiring. The hand of G-d is always at work. He orchestrates everything. And he brings miracles to those who open their eyes.