How the ancient story of Chanukah is relevant through the centuries and to our lives today. It was 1944 in the Buchenwald concentration camp, and S. B. Unsdorfer was getting ready to celebrate Chanukah. Despite the harsh conditions in the camp, all he could think about was how he would be able to celebrate Chanukah this year. He decided with his friends that they will do anything to make it happen. The big question at hand was how would they be able to get oil and wicks to create a menorah. Grunwald, a good friend of Unsdorfer, decided to step in and help. He managed to convince the S.S. Officer who was in charge of the factory in which they worked, to give him a can of oil for the week to oil down the machines at the factory so they can work faster. Now, for the wicks. When evening arrived, Unsdorfer unraveled a few threads from his thin blanket which he used for sleeping and created a wick. That is when Unsdorfor realized they were missing one last item. A match. The next day during dinner time, Unsdorfor and Grunwald decided to save up the extra soup from dinner, and exchange it with Chef Joseph for a box of matches. So far, everything went smoothly. But will they be able to light the menorah on Chanukah? Only time will tell. A few days passed and the fateful time arrived. On the eve of Chanukah, after a long day of work, Unsdorfer and Grunwald sat down at the foot of their bed to light their crafted menorah: a bit of oil and a wick inside an empty half of a shoe polish tin. As they lit the menorah, the power of the moment overtook them. They realized that they had just lit the candles that their ancestors have been lighting for thousands of years. For a brief moment, it almost felt that the dark and cold winter in the concentration camp did not exist. The light shined ever brighter and warmed their hearts. Suddenly the silence was broken as an S.S. Officer stormed the room. He shouted, “I smell oil!� as he gazed around the room, his eyes fell on the two men huddled around the oil menorah. There was no turning back. This would be their last Chanukah alive. As the officer reached for his pistol, a siren went off in the air. It was an air raid. All the lights were suddenly off in the camp, and everyone started running toward the open ground, including the S.S. Officer. The men’s lives were saved. Another Chanukah miracle. Chanukah is not just a tale from the past. Chanukah is the story of our lives. It is what carried us through any hardship, from generation to generation. Whenever we are faced with a challenge, a darkness that seems to negatively affect our lives, we can always look deeper into the light within us. The everlasting menorah within each of us is an eternal flame that can outlast any darkness. So shine your light, and spread it to those around you. Happy Chanukah! On Dec.19, 4 p.m., a Community Lighting of the Menorah will take place, with a children’s program, latkes, donuts and more, music, and a Juggling show. Free Admission. Chabad of Topanga is located at 1459 Old Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga. CA 90290. For information: (310) 4551597; rabbiweiss@hotmail.com; chabadoftopanga.com.