Our theme this year for Hanukkah is “Bringing Light to Darkness.” The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah occurs in the darkest time of the year on the 25th night of the Hebrew month of Kislev. In 2023, the first night of Hanukkah is Thursday, December 7.
Unlike other Jewish holidays, Hanukkah begins when the moon has nearly disappeared from the night sky,
We find ourselves in an existential as well as physical darkness right now. For Jews around the world, the massacres on October 7, 2023, of Israelis sleeping in their beds have shocked and saddened us to our core. These brutal slaughters constitute the largest attack on Jews since the Holocaust.
This horrible event, which included the taking of hostages, the ensuing response by Israel, and the astronomical rise in anti-Jewish hatred has created a new world fraught with division and conflict. For many of us, the last seven weeks have been a nightmare. This year, the darkness we are experiencing is December-type-darkness and October-7th-darkness. And we are additionally saddened by the death of so many innocent people in Gaza.
Hanukkah in 2023
Bringing Light to Darkness
Usually, each year, I write a fun and uplifting blog post for each night of Hanukkah.
This year’s posts will be different. The goal will be to “increase the light” in the world. As the Hasidic teacher the Sefat Emes writes – human beings were created to be lights.
I hope that together, we will build a “virtual bonfire” of light, growing each night. Each night will include a theme and inspirational texts. Additionally, each post will feature personal reflections from members of our Hineni Jewish spiritual community.
These reflections might lead you to reflect and talk about your own memories or create new ones.
Let’s begin.
We start with a teaching by Rabbi Shai Held, about how one little light can illuminate the darkness, and how we, ourselves, can be like “stars” in the sky:
Lighting Up the Darkness
Hanukkah … begins on the 25th of the month, when the moon has all but completely disappeared. We are in one of the darkest periods of one of the darkest months of the year. All around us is darkness. And what do we do? We light a fire. Not a bonfire, but a small fire — now one, now another, and so forth for eight nights. In other words, we do not pretend to be the sun, but only stars. We do not bring an end to darkness but soften its effects.
The Sefas Emes puts it in discussing Hanukkah, “A human being is created to light up this world” (Hanukkah, 1874).
Hanukkah (or Chanukah) is a relatively minor Jewish holiday. Even so, Hanukkah has become one of the most celebrated Jewish holidays of the year. This is partly because of its close proximity to Christmas, its fabulous food, and partly because it is a holiday celebrated with family and friends.
Hanukkah celebrates a miracle a long time ago, and the theme of the entire holiday is LIGHT.
A primary theme of Hanukkah is the idea of increasing the light. We start with one candle in our Hanukkiah (actually two including the shamash/helper candle) and each night, light one more. We light candles for eight nights.
Plants orient themselves to the light. For us humans, we can do that too! This is especially so during times of darkness and conflict. Even when the light seems hidden, the rabbis taught that we must continue to search for it. Even in the smallest ways.
The Sefat Emet teaches: The Hanukkah candles are a spiritual symbol; the light of the commandments by which we search out our inner selves. We seek out the hidden divine light within ourselves; the mitzvot are light-seeking candles, instruments given to us to aid us in that search.”
Sefat Emet (Rabbi Yehudah Leib Alter of Ger 1847-1905)
How might you remember to keep seeking the light?
— Maybe it is by listening with compassion to someone with whom you disagree.
— Perhaps it is pulling away from social media when you feel depleted to replenish your inner light.
From Our Community
Each night, we will feature a few Hanukkah memories, hopes, and thoughts about light from members of our Hineni Spiritual Community.
My hope this year is that I can be a resilient, serene, calm light within my family and community as a reminder, a representative of all those possibilities for our planet and for all humans.
Elizabeth Crouch
I hope that light and love will help overcome dark and hatred.
Sue Rodriguez
There have been years when I did not observe Chanukah – ( travel, etc ); however, this year I am very dedicated to lighting the candles each night because spiritually – the light of hope, peace, and love is necessary to share with my family and beyond to everyone.
Franny Alexander
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Thank you for this.
May our light spread like wildfire.
This is exactly my hope!
Love this❤️
This a wonderful gift. Especially this year.
This is a brilliant and special way to observe Chanukkah. Thank you, Rabbi Jill.
Not Jewish but I’m learning to support my daughter who converted.
May the light in all of us shine.
Peace