Driving around Redbridge, one cannot help but notice the giant Menorahs (Candelabras) standing tall and proud on the Gants Hill & Fullwell Cross roundabouts, as the Jewish community celebrate the Festival of Chanukah.

Chanukah – the festival of lights, commemorates the victory of the Jewish People over the powerful Greek army (139 BCE) leading to the rededication of the defiled Temple.

The miracle of the lights followed, where one cruise of oil, the only one not to be defiled by the Greeks, was set to last for 24 hours, but miraculously stayed illuminated for eight days, whilst fresh pure oil was being replenished.

Miracles we believe to have happened in generations gone by. But what about in our times, do miracles happen? And what do the lights today teach us?

Whether it’s overcoming tyranny, celebrating the birth of a new child, advances in modern science, are they taken for granted, or modern day miracles?

These lights kindled in our time and on display teach us that today too, miracles do happen.

G-d shows us a His love daily, showering us with daily miracles which we often put down to nature or the way life is. In reality we don’t even realise the extent to which G-d is performing miracles for us every day.

The lights share a universal message. Yes indeed they celebrate religious freedom from oppression of any sort, but they also ask us all to stop for a moment, take stock, by looking into the lights, which increase day by day throughout the week.

Now see and recognise how G-d’s miracles are forever ongoing, never to be taken for granted. Happy Chanukah.