se e 5 404 Light Of A Small Candle Shines In Valley Forge The number of Jews who migrated to American shores in pre-revolutionary times was very small. Yet most of those Jews joined in the fight for freedom against Britain and fought on the side of the Continental Army in the war for American independence. I remember that difficult winter well. It was December 1777. Shortages of food, inadequate clothing, and raging illness caused untold suffering and tremendous hardship for the troops loyal to General George Washington and the revolutionary cause. - In the winter quarters at Valley Forge, the troops sat and waited for an extra blanket or for a crust of bread. They sat and wondered whether General Washington would be able to force a British retreat. Morale was low. I never doubted the outcome of the war, for men have always struggled against tyranny in the cause of justice. My father had told me about his personal struggle against tyranny, how he fled religious persecution in Germany and migrated to the American colonies, how he hoped to build a new life in the new world. When I joined the Continental Army two years ago, he gave me a Chanukah menorah and candles. I remember him telling me, "These candles are a symbol of man's struggle against tyranny. Light them each Chanukah. They will direct you toward the path of freedom." I carried the menorah and the candles in my knapsack wherever I went. Tonight was the first night of Chanukah. I removed the Chanukah menorah from my knapsack and walked away from where my comrades sat. I wanted to be alone when I lit my Chanukah menorah. I placed the menorah in the center of a small mound of snow. I inserted one candle and the shamash (candle used to light the other candles). I struck my one remaining flint, lit the shamash and the first candle, and recited the blessings. Tears welled up in my eyes as I imagined my father lighting his Chanukah menorah in front of the parlor window in our New York apartment. I sat down in the snow to watch the little flickering lights. From time to time, I cupped my hands over the flames, protecting them from the wind. Suddenly, I felt that I was not alone. A man was standing over me. I looked up and recognized General George Washington. He % kV SQ4 a) CD tri e n c spoke softly. "Soldier, are you lost? Why are you so far away from your comrades? I noticed the flickering lights of your candles, and I walked over here to see if you were in any kind of trouble. Why did you light two candles so far from the campsite?" I could hardly speak. I hastily jumped to my feet. General Washington waited patiently for me to organize my thoughts. "I am a Jew," I began haltingly. "Tonight is the first night of Chanukah, our festival of freedom. Chanukah celebrates the Maccabean victory over Greek tyranny more than eighteen hundred years ago. When I joined the Continental Army, my father gave me this Chanukah menorah. He told me to light the candles, that they would help me remember the cause of freedom. I wanted to be alone when I lit the candles, so I walked away from the campsite. I know L 10 - FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1987 that your soldiers will also win their freedom, just as my people did long ago. I hope that we will build a new land together." I could distinguish a smile on General Washington's face in the soft glow of candlelight. He stood with me for a few minutes, watching the reflection of the nearly extinguished candles. When the flames died out, he shook my hand and walked away. I sat down again near the mound of snow and remained there for a long time that night. When the Revolutionary War ended, General George Washington was chosen to be the first president of the United States. I was certain that he forgot the incident of the Chanukah lights at Valley Forge, but it was imprinted in my memory forever. As years passed, I settled on Stone Street, adjacent to the Dock and South wards facing the East River. Each year during Chanukah I placed my menorah on the front windowsill, as I remembered my father had always done. The glow of the candles was noticed by all passersby. One Chanukah night, I answered a knock at my door and found President Washington standing in the entranceway. For the second time, I could hardly speak. President Washington did not wait for me to organize my thoughts. He initiated the conversation. "I was riding this way, and I saw your Chanukah lights at Valley Forge, and I recalled your inspiring words. I took a chance by knocking on this door, hoping that you were the soldier who had inspired me. I have been searching for you all these years. I am glad that I found you, for I have carried this Medal of Honor with me. Please accept it as a symbol of my thanks. I extended my hand and accepted the box with the special Medal of Honor. Inside the box lay a small, engraved Chanukah menorah with the words, "Thank you for the light of a small candle." Reprinted by permission from Time for My Soul: A Treasury of Jewish Stories For Our Holy Days, by Annette Labovitz and Eugene Labovitz, 1979, Jason Aronson, Inc.