Judaism

Bo the golden doodle sits on the couch behind a menorah with 7 lit candles.

Being Grateful this Hanukkah – Night 7

Hanukkah is a Festival of Lights at the darkest time of the year.  We are grateful for illumination that abundantly lights our way even at the darkest of times. You may be challenged to find gratitude when the world is burning. Our greatest spiritual teachers encourage us to find gratitude in even the smallest things. …

Dedicate Yourself This Hanukkah – Day 6

The word “Hanukkah”  –  חֲנֻכָּה – means “dedication“. The Festival of Hanukkah celebrates the miracle of the oil that burned for eight nights. Hanukkah commemorates the purification and re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabees’ defeat of the Greeks. Tonight, we are looking towards what we can each dedicate ourselves to in improving …

Memories That Sustain Us: Hanukkah, Night Three

In a moving piece from Hannah Arendt, she notices that dark times are not rare, but that we have a “right to expect some illumination.” Arendt writes that this illumination comes from human beings who kindle a light with the way they live their lives. When we remember those people who illuminated our lives, it …

Bringing Light To Darkness: Hanukkah, Night One

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 …

The North Star

Hanukkah Night #5: People You Admire

The question for tonight’s 5th candle is: What five people inspire you, or bring you light? One way we receive light in our lives is from people we admire. You might be impressed by someone’s courage or compassion or how they confront challenges. They could be people you know personally or someone you’ve not met.  …

Hanukkah Night #8: What Brings You Joy?

Tonight we light the 8th candle for Hanukkah and ask the final question. Tonight, each candle is about JOY & laughter. When we collect moments of joy, we bring light into our lives. Tonight’s question for journaling and discussion is: What 8 things bring you joy or laughter? Here are mine: Reading Tales of the …

Hanukkah Night #6: What Helps You Stop & Rest?

Tonight we light the 6th candle of Hanukkah. And it is also Shabbat, the day of rest. We light the menorah first, and then our Shabbat candles. The question for tonight is: Can you name 6 things that help you rest or stop or take a needed breath? As my teacher Rabbi Sheila Peltz Weinberg …

Bo

Hanukkah Night #7: Grateful

Tonight we light the 7th candle of Hanukkah. All throughout this holiday, we have been collecting the ways we actively bring light into our lives, or how we recognize the light. Every night we light one more candle, following the principle of gradually increasing the light (Talmud, Shabbat 21b:5)  The experience of being grateful fills …

Hanukkah Night #5: Books & Movies

Tonight we light the 5th Chanukah candle. Here’s tonight’s question: What are 5 books that have been influential or made a difference to you this year? This year, my selections represent the kind of learning and comfort I needed. Here is my list for this year with a quote from each one: Braiding Sweetgrass, Indigenous …

Hanukkah Night #4: Comfort Foods

Tonight we light the 4th candle of Chanukah. Our discussion question tonight should be fun! As we continue to light the lights: What four foods have been comforting to you this past year? They don’t *have* to be Chanukah food, but if that is what comes to mind, all the more perfect. To be honest, …

Candid

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