Chanukah thoughts

I’m sitting here at the freshly lit Chanukah menorah; Watching the small flames flicker which is a representation of hope, light and miracles.

I am usually able to feel it yet this year it just doesn’t seem right. With the world engulfed in extreme states of darkness and pain, can there be light? Can there be hope? The atrocities of Israels’ 9/11 is still so fresh in everyone’s hearts and souls. It almost seems like the clock stopped ticking on October 7th and we are all still living on that fateful day.

Where is there room for celebration? Is it even fair to celebrate a holiday that represents light while living in a world gone so dark?

Thinking again, while looking back at the menorah once again, I can see the shabbos candle sticks standing tall and proud, ready to be lit in honor of the upcoming Shabbos.

Fire is perhaps the strongest force in the world. It can destroy the tallest of buildings. The biggest destruction comes from fire. All of weaponry is powered by fire and creates fire. Even water itself can’t extinguish fire if it’s of equal amounts to the fire. The only way water can put out fire, is if fire is outnumbered by water.

At the same time, fire can also be the source of creation. A small flame can mold and create the most beautiful jewelry. It’s how custom glass is created. A car, a plane and all of electricity is powered by small amounts of controlled fire.

A fire is the biggest source of destruction; while a flame is the source of creation.

We as a nation use the power of a small flame. We bring in Shabbos with small flames. We go out of Shabbos and usher in a new week with a small flame. We commemorate a neshama on their yartzheit with a small candle, because a soul is like the flame of a candle.

While the world is so dark and devoid of any sense of light and hope, perhaps we can hone into the creation aspect of the fire, the small flame of a candle.

While the world is filled with rage, hatred and war using the negative powers of the fire, we can tap into the positive aspects of the small candle.

Although it seems impossible to extinguish a fire with a flame, the flame is a creator and can create the impossible.

The number seven represents Tevah/nature. The number eight is symbolic of breaking nature. With the number eight, we can go to places where seven can’t go.

Chanukah is celebrated for eight days although in actuality the miracle was just for seven.

On Chanukah there were many many miracles, yet for some reason we only focus on the menorah which contained small flames.

Perhaps this is what God wants us to learn.

A small flame is gentle enough to create while strong enough to break through the laws of nature.

Looking once more at the calm flickering flame of the menorah, I begin to feel a sense of calmness and connection.

Yes, there is so much pain, but we have the power of the flame.

Yes, there is so much darkness but we have the light of the flame to guide us through times like this.

Perhaps this year, in addition to celebrating previous miracles from many centuries ago, the menorah can also be a source of healing, hope and inspiration.

We are a nation that can conquer over the strongest darkness, the biggest fires and the most horrific events.

Seeing soldiers dancing Am Yisroel Chai, in the midst of a war, is a living testament of our internal flame.

Watching a family, holding hands and singing in unison at a shiva house or at the bedside of a an injured family member is once again a representation of that fire.

Watching hallel being recited at the rally in Washington, is above human nature. But we as a people break nature because we are fueled by the spark of our inner flames.

We do this all with the power of the flame.

We’ve done it so many times in history and we’ll do it again now.

For those of you going through personal darkness, I’d like to share a final thought.

A flame has a very unique characteristic.

If you place one flame near a second, it will bond together to become one. I don’t know of another matter that can do that.

We all have an internal small flame within us. I’d like to share mine with you all and perhaps you can share yours with others.

Let’s all bond together.

The nation of klal Yisroel has come together like never before. We have all become family on a global level. On a personal level as well, let’s get together and share our light, strength and hope!