Light over darkness: Wisdom from Jamaica’s Maroons and Jewish traditions

EVER SINCE I moved to Jamaica a decade ago, I’ve been fascinated by the Maroons. They are famous for being the first group of free Africans to live in Jamaica, emerging around 1650 as descendants of slaves freed by Dutch settlers. They established communities of their own, preserving their cultural and spiritual identities for hundreds of years. This was against the backdrop of the British colonial presence, which sought to re-enslave the maroons.

The Maroons refused to submit to British authority or return to slavery. Their determination and dedication to freedom played a pivotal role in shaping Jamaica’s path toward independence. Even today, their steadfast spirit is still felt in the Jamaican cultural identity.

This steadfastness brought to mind one of the 7 Universal Human Laws, of which I have written extensively, which is ‘Do not curse G-d’. Tradition teaches that these laws were given to Noah as guidelines for future generations to maintain order and uphold virtue. Reflecting on the Maroons, I realised this command is fundamentally a call to remain steadfast in faith amid adversity.

It is natural to feel anger toward G-d when life becomes challenging. Succumbing to despair can seem unavoidable – after all, life is difficult, and we are only human. As a rabbi, I often counsel people grappling with anger or despair in the face of life’s trials and tribulations. This year alone, scores of people lost their homes and livelihoods in Hurricane Beryl, and I witnessed countless individuals who had every right to curse and complain, who instead chose to remain in a state of gratitude.

The command “Do not curse G-d” asks us to rise above our circumstances and remain true to our faith. Like the Maroons, it calls us to find strength in our core identity and resist giving into despair. This mindset allows us to transform challenges into opportunities for growth and meaning. Adversity becomes a chance to deepen our commitment to G-d, and find meaning in the face of hardship.

The remarkable resilience of the Maroons recalls the miraculous victory of the ancient Israelites over the Assyrian army. Though vastly outnumbered, the Jews refused to abandon their monotheistic beliefs for Greek paganism. By remaining faithful to G-d, they overcame their oppressors and achieved triumph.

The Jewish victory is commemorated each year at Chanukah, a festival whose theme centres on transforming darkness into light. We remember the valiant Maccabees – a small band of Jewish warrior-priests who rose against the mighty Assyrian army to defend their faith and ultimately triumphed.

Both the Maroons and the Maccabees exemplify the virtue of faithfulness in their darkest moments. By staying true to their values, they brought greater order and goodness to the world.

Although direct quotes from the Maroons are scarce due to their oral traditions, Queen Nanny – the famed Maroon leader who is featured on our $500 banknotes – left behind a legacy of transforming hardship into triumph. Her leadership emphasised unity, self-reliance, and faith in their cultural heritage. This echoes King David’s sentiment in the book of Psalms: “For You light my lamp; the Lord my G-d illuminates my darkness.” (Psalms 18:28).

This year, Chanukah begins on the evening of Wednesday December 25, and ends on Thursday, January 2, 2025. We will celebrate this holiday with public menorah lightings across the island, including our first annual One Love, One Light Festival of Music and Unity on Sunday, December 29 at Chances Beach in Negril. Free and open to the public, over 4,000 locals and tourists will join this celebration of light and unity. Headlining the concert will be the Maccabeats, an internationally-renowned Jewish acapella band whose name is a play on the words maccabee and beats. Their hit single Candle Light has amassed tens of millions of Spotify plays and YouTube views since it was released.

Our music festival will celebrate the themes of ‘Light Over Darkness’ and ‘Triumphing Over Adversity’. Proceeds from the concert will go directly to support communities like Westmoreland and Trelawny, specifically helping to fund essential resources like water tanks and running water, where access to these basic needs is severely limited.

This Chanukah, let us all remember the resilience of the Maccabees and the Maroons. Their fierce commitment to freedom and faith continues to inspire countless people to do acts of kindness and stand up for their beliefs. By remaining true to our highest values, we can overcome adversity and transform the world’s darkness into light.

Rabbi Raskin is Jamaica’s only rabbi and co-directs Chabad of Jamaica with his wife Chaya Mushka. Chabad is a one-stop for everything Jewish and a place dedicated to spreading acts of goodness and kindness to all humanity. For your comments and to receive a free ARK Charity Box (Acts of Routine Kindness), email info@jewishjamaica.com.