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Light in a Season of DarknessDecember 2003From the Desk of Rabbi CohonHaneirot halalu anu madlikin, al hanism v'al hanifla'ot "We light these candles for the miracles and the wonders."
Chanukah is called "the festival of light". Coming as it does in the season of the shortest days of the year, when we experience darkness as an increased presence in our lives, it is very welcome indeed. The flickering delight of chanukiah candles shining in a window warms the heart-but there is more here than just bringing light into a time when it is least present. In Jewish traditions throughout history light implies divine illumination, openness and inspiration, honesty, holiness, and goodness. God's first words in Genesis are yehi or, Let there be light! Light is the initial sign of God's presence in the world, holy energy brought into the vacuum of emptiness. Light represents Divine order imposed on chaos, the illumination of holiness entering into and transforming the abyss. But light is also something more. The light that comes from the sacred fire of the altar in the Temple, the ner tamid, is the specific message that God is always with us. Look above any ark in any sanctuary in the world and you will see this tangible symbol, in light, that God is with us. And light is still more: we begin every Shabbat with the lighting of candles, and conclude it by lighting the braided wicks of the Havdallah candle. These lights promise us a day of holiness and beauty, of rest and contentment. In Kabbalah, the mystical tradition of Judaism, there are special words for different manifestations of light, particularly ziv, the light that emanates from God, and Or Adonai the brilliant light that comes directly from the Divine essence. We celebrate light emerging into blackness, the energy that carries forward the holiness of God overcoming darkness and doubt. Even the movement that highlights rationalism in Judaism, the Haskalah, means "Enlightenment". My grandfather was inspired by that great scholarly trend to become a maskil, an "enlightened" mind. Light is the symbol of the shining glow of reason and understanding triumphing over ignorance and superstition. On Chanukah, the central mitzvah, the great command is pirsomet hanes, literally "publicize the miracle": shine the light of Chanukah menorahs out into a world of shadow and night. Our responsibility at this season is to bring the light of holiness and inspiration, and the message of God's deliverance and sanctity, into a time of doubt and darkness. When we light Chanukah candles every day of the holiday we connect ourselves, our families, and our neighborhoods with God. The light of those simple candles, if we view it properly, can inspire us to acts of goodness and blessing, to help those in need, to make our own lives shine with some of that holy illumination. May this season of Chanukah encourage you and your family to lives of greater holiness, blessing and light. L'shalom v'rei'ut, in peace and friendship, Rabbi Samuel M. Cohon |
