SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE:

For reflections on Hanukkah, we might look to the Maccabean period and observe how a people fought against insuperable odds for the right to differ, to pursue its own destiny, to preserve its own ideals and culture, and won.

Jewish history is survival, freedom and holy service of God. For this history has no parallel. This history becomes glorious. It is a history that is not only worthy of study but continuing as well.

This existence is exciting. It embraces the joy of survival. It can be puzzling at times as life is, most turbulent, most productive, most demanding, most rewarding, most indestructible are we Jews are as a group in all history — the eternal people, Israel.

We are here. Temple Isaiah is here. This week of Hanukkah brings to our Temple the legacy of being a Jew. On Monday we had a tragedy in our Temple — the passing of Linda Small, who was the wife of the president of our congregation.

Linda Small was a “Woman of Valor” for our people. Linda was the chairperson of our Hanukkah “Solarbration” on Sunday, where the first Solar Hanukkah latke will be baked. (The public is invited to the event, which starts at 1 p.m. and continues to 5:30 p.m.) She was the leader of our Sisterhood, as the Shamash, head candle on the menorah, is the spiritual guide to all the other Hanukkah candles on the menorah.

Linda’s presence will be missed, but like Judaism, the celebration of the Hanukkah lights will be her legacy that will live on. Her light and Hanukkah’s light intertwine to lead to our people’s future.

Like a seed, the message of Hanukkah, the light of religious freedom, must go out and radiate to all. That light is the message of “ethical monotheism.”

The sources of that light will cultivate, motivate and be planted in our souls to make our lives more meaningful and richer. It will produce goodness and peace, and a better world to live in.

MARC RUBENSTEIN is Temple Isaiah of Newport Beach’s rabbi.