For this 2nd night of Hanukkah, our question is: Which two experiences helped shape who you are? For the 1st night, we lit one candle for something we know for sure. Now we turn to experiences.
Here are mine. I hope you will add yours in the comments.
1 — My graduate school degree in education at the University of Massachusetts/Amherst, where I learned about group dynamics & systems theory. This deep knowledge has become the thread that informs everything I do – how I teach, plan, and think about projects and people. It was also where I learned about creating community and safe emotional environments. Paulo Freire’s books, Pedagogy of the Oppressed and Education for Critical Consciousness were formative as well because they taught me how education and justice need to go hand in hand. I went to graduate school in a time where cultural consciousness and feminism and human development were the hot topics and to this day, these ideas continue to shape how I see the world. UMass was also where I met my husband Ely.
“If the structure does not permit dialogue the structure must be changed”
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2 — The other experience was the birth of our boys. There was a moment at each birth that I thought I was going to die from the pain (I had no drugs.) I had two competing thoughts about this – one was that I couldn’t endure it and the other was a voice saying – you got this. This experience taught me that I am stronger than I think. (And with two huge gifts at the end!) It was also a real-life reminder that the only way to the other side is walking through the pain.
What about you?
What 2 experiences in your life helped shape who you are?
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 Hanukkah candle blessings, click here.
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The #1 thing that shaped me was my son getting Cancer and having a failed bone marrow transplant after his marrow had been destroyed by Chemo. Fortunately he survived and we are a closer family as a result. I also have a totally new found appreciation for life and living each day in the moment. Life is so precious and can be taken away from us all too easily…
The #2 thing was losing practically everything when my business went bankrupt. That took years to overcome but I am much stronger for it. In fact havimg gone through that helped my wife and me deal with our son’s cancer.
Mark I so appreciate hearing about these experiences that shaped you. SO HAPPY your son is ok! Yes, life is so precious. May he have a long and fulfilling life. Happy Hanukkah. Rabbi Jill
Thank you Rabbi Jill. 🙂
The first thing that helped shape me was coming to a very hard and low bottom from my drinking when I was 35. I was given the gift of sobriety which led me to aspire to be a citizen of the world and the second thing was my getting sober led me to a renewed faith and so I became a Jew by choice. My sobriety and my faith have led me, strengthened me and given me deep relationships with other people.
Dear Sylvia, It is so good to hear more of your sacred story! Good for you for overcoming and taking back your life. You are a gift. Happy Hanukkah, Rabbi Jill
Thank you. Any little gift i may have comes from Hashem. Chag Hanukkah Sameach