Zos Chanukah, Olive Oil and Refined Marriages

The last day of Chanukah has a little-known auspicious significance. The day, known as “Zos Chanukah” as coined by our forefathers and taken from the Torah reading of the day, has been identified as the extension and culmination of the period of repentance from Yom Kippur, resulting in miraculous responses to our prayers.

However, for me personally, for the first time ever, I connected the symbolism of the day with the other symbol of Chanukah – the olive tree, and the most significant connection back to our homes and the Chanukah themes of illumination and endurance and love and celebration of victory and triumph.

And what better model can there be for connecting the dots than the focus on Jewish marriage.

OLIVE TREES and Marriage – a Natural Analogy

Growing up in Texas, the idea of having gardens with significant symbols was not a high priority, which is why having a garden in Israel with as many species of the land was so important, principal among them was my insistence on having an Olive Tree (see picture below). And why the Olive tree? – because this tree and its “pure” oil in particular was the basis for the rededication of the Menorah and the miraculous survival of the single day’s jug which lasted eight days.

But likewise, the olive tree has been associated with families. For example, in biblical times, in psalm 128, the Jewish children have been compared to branches of the olive tree because  the olive tree is unique since it remains green and fresh all year round.  In reference to a Jewish couple,  Chassidic teachings connect shemen (oil) with neshamah (soul), so olive oil becomes a symbol of the hidden soul‑light that a couple can draw out in one another and in their home.

Olive trees and its olive oil also have roots in our heritage with an emphasis on   peace and endurance, even dating back to the time of Noah and the Ark. Likewise, couples with happy marriages have strong roots based on purity and stability and freshness coming from adding vitality and commitment and constant injection of light and joy into the home environment. And similar to Olive trees, when the olive itself is pressed and pure oil has the potential for being produced, in marriages disagreements and inevitable arguments can be transformed into enhanced communication opportunities and compassion, resulting in renewed dedication of time and infusions of energy for growth purposes.

Zos Chanukah as an Additional Marriage Education Moment

Today Zos Chanukah represents an opportunity to reflect back on the days of Chanukah as a couple and use the moments of light as a springboard for the days following Chanukah. As I recommended in my previous blog, Chanukah and the Seven Habits of a Glowing Marriage, the idea of using the candle lighting time as a “mini date night” can carry over as a catalyst for weekly date nights. And Zos Chanukah is an especially auspicious day for couples to “rededicate” their bayit ne’eman and reflect on ways to reignite their marriages in the post Chanukah days. And just like in the case of the Olive Tree, couples can gain perspective in what are their priorities and ways to add moments of commitment and vitality to their busy schedules

Zos Chanukah offers a yearly “marriage education” moment: it is a day when prayers are answered. Let us pray that as a nation we not only survive but thrive and that are homes become sources of illumination and places where we can experience islands of tranquility, serenity and shalom bayit in its pure source just as in the one pure Olive jug which created exponential miracles over the centuries.

Zos Chanukah Sameah.