by Rabbi Bridget Wynne
December 2, 2024 • 1 Kislev 5785
Hanukkah, which comes later this month, holds multiple meanings. Is it a historical tale of the Maccabees’ heroic battle against the Greeks to reclaim the Temple in Jerusalem? Or is it the story of the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days, keeping the Temple’s menorah lit until more oil could be brought? Perhaps it’s a winter holiday filled with light, food, music, gifts, games, family, and friends. Or maybe it’s a combination of these and other interpretations.
There are also mystical perspectives on Hanukkah that are less widely known. One I find particularly meaningful comes from Rav Abraham Isaac Kook (1935-1985), an important leader and teacher from Russia and Jerusalem. He focused on the personal, inner significance of the Hanukkah candles, writing:
Everyone must know
That deep within burns a candle.
No one’s candle is like someone else’s;
No one lacks a personal candle.
We all must know
That it is our task to reveal our light to the world,
For the benefit of the many.
To ignite it until it is a great flame
And to illuminate the world.
What is your “candle”? What are the unique gifts and talents you have to offer the world to bring greater light and goodness to others? How might you share them?
I’ve particularly enjoyed asking children about their special candles–what they’re good at, what they most appreciate about themselves, and how they can share those qualities. If they’re unsure, friends or classmates are often ready to offer their insights, and adults can use this method, too.
As we approach Hanukkah this year, may each of us be blessed to recognize the unique candle that burns within us and find ways to share it with others in a world that so deeply needs the light we each have to offer.
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