“What is Hanukah?” the Talmud asks. It is a story about the miracle of oil and light, is the answer. We may ask, however, so what is a miracle? And do we believe in miracles anyway?

Jewish commentators have wrestled with the question of the miraculous for at least 2,000 years. Some commentators understand the miracle as a manifestation of God’s omnipotence in the form of the suspension of natural law. The parting of the Red Sea, the manna from heaven, Joshua ordering the sun to stand still at Givon are all examples of such classic miracles.

50 Years Ago

From the Vineyard Gazette editions of December, 1957:

GREAT POND PROTECTION

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

A copper-white streak across the field,

Darting through dunes, power to wield . . .

A Brittany spaniel at home on the moors

Not of French, but Vineyard shores.

Like a king atop ridges he’d survey his land,

Alert ears, tail — and again sail the sand.

When he did pause and gaze with amber eyes

Upon those he loved, with his soul so wise . . .

’Twas clear Copper to no other could compare:

The brightest planet in the evening sky is the red planet Mars. The planet is brilliant, close and a spectacle in the east in our evening sky. Mars is 54 million miles away, awfully close for a planet. Mars is closest to the Earth on Dec. 18, and in opposition Dec. 24.

In 1932 a small group of Oak Bluffs ladies met to organize a club that would sponsor the homemaking programs of the Dukes County Extension Service with an emphasis on community service. That club is still alive and flourishing 75 years later, and is still dedicated to helping those around them. The formal name of the club is the Ogkeshkuppe Homemakers Club, Ogkeshkuppe being the Indian name for Oak Bluffs meaning wet or damp thicket or woods. The homemakers have thrived for so long because their main focus is to help others — and they succeed brilliantly.

The Vineyard Gazette can provide an enormous public service in helping to increase understanding and awareness by Island residents about the bacterial problems in Sengekontacket Pond. The recent Gazette article Sengekontacket from Nov. 30, however, makes several errors of fact that fuel public misconceptions.

It is early winter in the year 1942. The United States has just been attacked by a foreign power and the annihilation of our Pacific fleet is complete; the fence-sitting is over and the U.S. has officially entered the war. We will no longer simultaneously send humanitarian aid to the Chinese, and scrap metal and petroleum to Japan. Our country is shaken and enraged. And aroused. Our monumental defense production will soon pull us the rest of the way out of the Great Depression.

Temperature: Precip.

Day Max. Min. Inches.

Fº Fº

Nov. 30 54 34 .00

Dec. 1 45 31 .00

Dec. 2 35 20 .00

Dec. 3 44 22 .71

Dec. 4 49 25 .00

Dec. 5 32 18 .00

Dec. 6 36 22 Trace

Water temperature in Edgartown harbor: 41º F.

Families and music lovers from across the Island will gather on Wednesday, Dec. 12 at 7:30 p.m. at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Oak Bluffs for the 11th annual Reflections of Peace concert. This holiday tradition celebrates and benefits Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard.

Songs of the season will be performed by a cappella group Novum, Shelley Brown, Brad Austin and Kevin Ryan, and the West Tisbury Congregational Choir.

Instrumental offerings will be performed by the Katama Trio, the Vineyard Handbell Choir, and organist Wesley Brown.