blogs/rabbi-huberman

Choosing Light Over Darkness

Is it just me, or does the world seem a little darker these days?

The weather is dreary. There is less light. The cold makes it more difficult to move from place to place. Even our political climate appears mired in darkness.

But just when we feel that the world is closing in, a Jewish holiday emerges, reminding us that one light, one flame, one positive act can help perform Tikun Olam — the healing of this imperfect world.

The holiday is called Chanukah. It is a time of “rededication.” And each of us can do it.

The celebration of Chanukah began in 165 BCE to mark the victory by Judas Maccabeus (Judah the Maccabee) over Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the Seleucid king who invaded Judea, and desecrated the Jerusalem Temple.

It was his hope to Hellenize the entire Jewish people. He did not succeed.

A flask of pure oil, which somehow survived the conflict, was unsealed in order to rekindle the sacred candelabra (Menorah.) The oil was expected to last one day, but it burned for eight days.

And that is the miracle of Chanukah, which has inspired the Jewish people for more than 2,000 years, to increase their belief in a better, more enlightened world.

In commemoration, we light one candle on the first night of Chanukah, adding one each night until all eight candles fill us with light.

The idea for us to grow from one act of light to many is at the heart of this holiday. And each of us can do it.

The Jewish people are not alone in this practice. Our Christian cousins celebrate Christmas and our African-American neighbors observe Kwanza—embracing the same divine source of light, hope and peace.

Indeed, each of us is a light, each of us is a candle, each of has the capacity to spread positivity in the world. This reminds us that every day we should aspire to be kinder, more charitable, more caring.

And each one of us can be a shamash — a guide unto others.

It is common practice for children on each night to receive gifts.  But the holiday is about more than receiving.

Shabbat Shalom, v’kol tuv.

Rabbi Irwin Huberman