Chanukah begins in the darkest month of the year. We light the menorah (hanukkiah) for eight nights but we begin with just one. Each night, we increase the light by adding one new candle. Chanukah means “rededication.” Tonight, we dedicate our lighting to those in our lives who have made a difference or are making one right now.
This year, we are not only in the physically darkest month of the year but at a time of enormous suffering in our nation and world.
And to this darkness, we can add light – the light not only from our candles, but the light of consciousness, awareness, and gratitude.
Each night for the eight nights of Chanukah, I’ll be posing a question, and I hope you will participate.
Despite the darkness of COVID, we also see the health care workers who make a difference each day by their commitment to saving each life as best they can. We also see the essential workers who deliver groceries, work in factories, and harvest vegetables for us to eat.
Let’s light our world up.
First night of Chanukah question:
What ONE person has made a difference in your life?
Perhaps it was something he or she taught you that affected you deeply – or
A person who shared a book with you that changed the course of your life – or
A person who modeled a way of being in the world that made you think differently about everything –
One person can make a difference. We know that from our own experience.
For me, I am choosing my mom, Marlene Marks Kornick. As many of you know, she died this year in September, right before the Jewish High Holy Days. Because of COVID restrictions, I was not able to either visit her in her final months, which broke my heart – but my mom did not want me to put myself in danger in any way by traveling, and so we facetimed a lot.
My mom saved my emotional life in so many ways. Next to my other parent’s disapproval, my mom’s belief in me and my basic goodness was the rock I stood upon. My mother always told me how good I was and how proud she was of me. She cheered every accomplishment but her support of me was so much more than about what I did. She believed in who I was. That was everything to me.
I would not be who I am today without her love.
Tonight, I dedicate this first candle to her: Marlene Marks Kornick, zikhronah livrakha – may her memory be a blessing.
Who is it that person for you? (Please write in the comments.)
One candle has the power to light up the darkness. One person has the power to light up our lives.
— I’ll be posting a new question each day with a photo of our precious #Bo, our Labradoodle. For my favorite potato latkes recipe click here. For the Chanukah candle blessings, click here.
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Beautiful Jill. She was such a lovely woman! Happy Chanukah to you and the family.
Love,
Jill <3
Thank you, Rabbi Jill. There is no one person. However, l honor many women of faith
who shared their light, insight and love along my path. Bless their presence & memory.
Thank you, yes, mothers are very special to us. Last few months or years this light for me among others was rabbi Sacks. May we be the light he spoke about. Happy Hanukkah
What a touching tribute to your beloved mother, Rabbi Jill! This pandemic has amplified contact between many couples. My husband of 52 years, Tom, has shown such unconditional love to me, even in the most difficult circumstances, that he is my blazing candle. Indeed, his heart filled with chesed could light the whole world.
Rav Jill, I’m so sorry for your loss. It’s wonderful that you could have FaceTime with your mom. While we’re greatly missing in-person encounters, I’m so grateful for the technology which affords us the opportunity to get together virtually. Like you, my mom, Mimi Shapiro Schetina Reinhart, is the very significant and impactful person in my life to whom I will dedicate this first night’s light. She passed away nearly 27 years ago, but she emitted so much light and gave me so much. She is always with me in spirit.
am so glad you had such a close relationship with your mother. Thank you for sharing that. There have been so many wonderful women who have shined their light my way and helped me get to this point. The woman I will raise up today is Rabbi Marcia Tilchin who has helped me re-find my Jewish soul. I am grateful for her spirit, her direction and friendship that has helped me so much this year.
Rabbi Jill, thank you for your beautiful words and perspective, despite a year of true difficulties. Like you, I feel deeply blessed to have had what I consider to be my “ultimate cheerleader”, through his unconditional love and acceptance for me – my dad. I dedicate my light on the first night to him. Happy Hannukah everyone!
Rabbi Jill, Thanks for sharing your beautiful words about about your Mom… and for creating this lovely ritual
of dedicating each night of Chanukah to a special person who creates light in your life. My mom (Doris Kronish) continues to be the shining light in my world, although she very sadly passed away 25 years ago.
She was an unconditional giver and nurturer… enabling each person in our family to feel safe, accepted and totally loved, She was a good listener, great sounding board, advisor and very wise counselor. In her low keyed way, she made life richer and fuller for each of us. Her impeccable values, joy in “living Jewish”, generosity of spirit, and intolerance of injustice are a living legacy ! I dedicate my first candle to my beloved mom, Sarah Freidel, may her memory always be a blessing.