They ate and played dreidel and he opened his gift, and then Mara turned on the music and began to clap. He smiled a bit and clapped along but seemed ready to sink back into his malaise. Just then, Mara became aware of the shadows moving in the flickering flames to the rhythm of the music. It was not to mock her, but to tell her what else she must do. As her dad got up to leave she caught up his hands and engaged his eyes. He could not look away as the candlelight reflected in Mara’s eyes contained the image of his dear wife. Following the lead of the two women he loved he began to dance the horah. One and two and kick, one and two and kick… Mara turned him in a circle as they stepped and kicked to the rhythm of the music. Mom jumped into the middle turning faster and faster until she became part of the dancing flames and shadows. Papa began to laugh. Mara did not need to hear this laughter to know that it was the sound of breaking chains.
Nes Gadol Haya Sham, the Israelites threw off the chains of an oppressor, reclaimed their Temple and lit the Everlasting Light.
This night as they kicked and spun and laughed, Mara and her father freed themselves from grief and the burden of the past. As the candles burned low, he gathered her in his arms and she hugged him back. Father and daughter they made a wordless pledge: She to honor the memory of her mother by never giving up; and he to always be there to support and care for the daughter both he and his wife so dearly loved.
The next day, Mara and her dad took down the decorations and carefully packed the Chanukah box for next year and for all the years to come. And every year as the light grew brighter with the addition of each candle, they saw an extra shadow spinning joyfully in the middle as they danced the horah and laughed in celebration of miracles.
