Our Clergy's Thoughts

Chanukah is a humble little holiday. I mean, really, what is there about it? Other than an 8-branched lamp (with a 9th branch for candle that helps light the others), there's not much to it. Coming during the Christmas season, Chanukah can easily be both overlooked and overhyped.

Neither response is necessary. Tiny Chanukah is packed with faith and hope. It stands on its own, especially in 2020, when faith and hope are in such short supply.    

Pirsumei nisa, proclaiming the miracle of the "little bit of oil that could," is the practice of placing your menorah in a window for all the world to see. It's the pride of individual religious freedom, the certainty that differences matter, that minority populations have as much right to flourish as majorities, that individual integrity counts. The humble menorah stands tall and proud in a world where fitting in and letting go of individuality is prized.  

Pirsumei nisa is a tiny gesture with a big heart. No matter how small we think we are, no matter how much anxiety and pain there is in our communities, we are the little bit of oil that lasted 8 days when it should have only lasted one. With faith in the future, we can do much more than we thought we could. 

In the past few years Chanukah music - which, honestly, was more of a joke than something to be taken seriously - has flourished. There is so much out there now ranging from settings of religious texts to the latest, Daveed Diggs' "Puppy for Hanukkah." While it's not going to get US radio air time, a lot of it is high quality. 

I'll add some videos later for you to enjoy.

In the meantime, may the lights of Chanukah burn brightly for us and all the world. 

חג אורים שמח!

Happy holiday of lights ... Happy Chanukah!