Light up the Darkness

This world can be such an ugly place at times. There are people who kill, lie, steal, gossip, cheat and swear. There's so much hatred and jealousy around. People yell at each other, look down at one another and hold grudges for years. Families feud and lose contact for lifetimes, leaving massive rifts among the generations. Husbands have wandering eyes and wives build up resentment that can take a lifetime to erase...

We are now in the week of Channuka, also known as the Festival of Lights. It is an eight-day  holiday commemorating the re-dedication of the the Second Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE. Chanukka is observed for eight nights and days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Jewish calendar which may occur at any time from late November to late December in the Gregorian calendar. The festival is observed by the kindling of the lights of a Channukiya/Menorah( a candelabra made up of 9 branches) , one additional light on each night of the holiday, progressing to eight on the final night. The typical Menorah consists of eight branches with an additional raised branch called the Shamash. Channuka is a story of light and miracles. It is the time of year that is incredibly special to me as it is on the Eve of Channuka 3 years ago, that we welcomed our first born child, a boy, into the Covenant of Avraham Avinu and just like the light of this special holiday, our boy lit up our lives and continues to do so on a daily basis with his smile and laughter that can melt an iceberg and light up a pitch dark room.

Last week, in preparation for Channuka, my son and I went to the center of town to look at potential gifts he might be interested in getting for the holiday. We entered a multipurpose store with a lot of toys that he was very interested in buying, but I took that opportunity to teach my boy about giving to people who have much less than us. The store was having a toy drive for less fortunate children in our neighborhood and I really wanted him to think about a little boy or little girl his age who wouldn't be getting a Channuka gift, because his parents wouldn't be able to afford it. My boy made me so proud that day. I had prepped him that we weren't shopping for his gift. That Ema would shop for his gift the next day. That today was the day to choose a gift for a special little boy or girl who wouldn't get any other gifts otherwise. Many children his age would not have been able to leave that store unless they were getting something too. But with tremendous grace and kindness, my little boy chose a gift for another child, paid for it at the cash and left the store empty handed.

Earlier that day, my 18 month old daughter and I went grocery shopping. On our way into the elevator to get to the store, we saw a lovely Ethiopian woman whom we see rather often, cleaning the floors and looking very tired. I got inspired by the moment and decided that I wanted my little girl to brighten this woman's difficult day of physical labor. We picked up a mini chocolate bar at the grocery store and as we entered the elevator, the lovely young woman joined us. As we were all getting out of the elevator, my daughter gave the young woman the chocolate bar and we wished her a Channuka Sameach(Happy Channuka).

As it is written in Sefer Mishlei, the Book of Proverbs 20:27, "The soul of man is a candle of G-d". No matter what color or shape the candle's body is, its flame remains pure and bright. A shining deed can brighten a seemingly dark world. What a powerful lesson to teach my children.

Love,
Cigal