Invite more light, less hate into life

As the weather gets colder, and as the days get shorter and darker, many peoples and cultures have celebrations involving the kindling of lights. Jews eagerly await the arrival of a much beloved holiday, Hanukkah.

It reminds us of the struggle of the Maccabees. During a dark time of oppression they fought for their right to be Jewish. Their victory meant that they would be free to celebrate the Jewish holidays and to study the Torah. Then they purified and rededicated the Holy Temple of Jerusalem and rekindled the Menorah.

We are also in a dark time in human history. After a period of prosperity, relative peace and increased worldwide connection, our world seems to be falling apart. Intolerance, separatism and xenophobia are on the rise. People are more concerned with building walls rather than building bridges. Our society is divided and polarized. 

The world’s oldest hatred, anti-Semitism, is rearing its dark head again. Swastikas profane our schools, synagogues and cemeteries. Visibly Orthodox Jews are verbally abused and violently attacked in Brooklyn, in Lawrence and elsewhere.

We need to increase light in order to dispel the darkness. As Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

When we light the Hanukkah menorah we begin with one candle on the first night, adding another one each night until the eighth night, when the candelabrum is fully lit. This way of lighting follows the opinion of Hillel, one of the great rabbis of the second Temple period, whose teachings were preserved in the Talmud. He taught us that we should always strive to increase light and holiness in our lives.

Hanukkah is not about buying and giving presents. Hanukkah teaches us that light, goodness and freedom are not a given in the world. It is upon us to ignite, cherish and preserve them. It is upon us to increase the amount of light and holiness in our lives and in the world every day, as we increase the number of candles on each day of Hanukkah. This Hanukkah let us increase the light together in our communities! Happy Festival of Lights!

Kupchik leads Temple Beth El, Cedarhurst.