GordoZone

Just imagine: you’ve fought with your life to recover your temple from outsiders.  You were not only fighting a foreign enemy, you were fighting a civil war to maintain the identity of your faith.

As the day goes on and you assess your victory, your holy men order that the temple be clensed and rededicated that day to God on this historic and victorious day.  You are not to wait.

A new alter is quickly built, and new holy vessels are set up.  You feel the energy of God’s love and power emanating from all around you.  This is a special time of freedom and affirmation.

Alas, when it comes time to relight the menorah, which is to stay permanently lit in the holy temple of God, there is only one vial of oil that remained undefiled by the enemy.  Only one vial with the high priest’s seal intact, denoting purity.

But it takes eight days to properly make and sanctify ritually pure olive oil for the menorah.

What do you do?

The priests act with what they have at the moment.  They pour a full measure of oil into the menorah and light it.  Or mabye they apportion an eighth of the vial to have the flame so they can have it lit for at least a little while.  You’re not quite sure.

Today, you celebrate.  Today, you have your victory.  Today, our people act as God would have us with the tools that are here.  Tomorrow, our people shall concern ourselves with the lack of pure oil.  Maybe tomorrow you can find some more pure oil to last us until the new is ready.

Your people thank God for your victory, set the temple right, and  then you rest.

Shalom.