HAPPY HANUKKAH!!

December 18th, 2022 | 25 Kislev 5783

Happy Hanukkah!!

The festival of lights is finally here! Eight crazy nights of latkes, dreidel, sufganiyot, and of course, the light!!!  I’m changing up the usual Friday letter and instead gifting you thought provoking questions for your 8 nights of Hanukkah. Wow!! Yippee!!

First - let’s start with a classic Shammai vs. Hillel debate - two Rabbis that always love to play devil's advocate to the other in the Talmud.

“Shammai said that on the first day, eight lights are lit and thereafter they are gradually reduced; but Hillel said: on the first day one is lit and thereafter they are progressively increased”

-Babylonian Talmud 21b

In today’s world - we start with one new candle every night, until we get to eight on the last night - the brightest of them all - the Hillel way. The Shammai way takes a different perspective of looking at it. Starting with all 8 candles lit, we are celebrating the miracle from the very beginning. The oil that lasts for all 8 days gets reduced a little bit every day, but the miracle still gets bigger. The oil is lasting and the light is still burning bright. Either way, Shammai and Hillel still choose to celebrate the miracle of light. It just depends on which way you choose to look at it. Do you savor the miracle a little bit at a time, or go all in from the beginning? No matter which way you lean, there’s power in celebrating the miracle of light. This time of year brings exhaustion, winter weather, family moments (the good & the challenging), and flu szn! This Hanukkah, remember how you can find the light in the dark times and focus on the miracles in your life.

For 8 crazy nights, be thoughtful with yourself on how you bring your own light into the world during this time of year, in more ways than just lighting the menorah. Use this list below, inspired by the various themes of Hanukkah, to make your festival of lights even brighter!

• 8 ways you found light in the darkness this year . . .

• 8 miracles that have happened in your life so far . . .

• 8 gifts that you offer to the world . . .

• 8 moments in your life that you’ve leaned into vulnerability . . .

• 8 times you’ve celebrated who you are and what you offer to the world . . .

My hope is that these lists make you realize the miracle that YOU are, and the brighter you shine, the better you make the world. Never stop shining (just remember to recharge your oil when you need to!)

Wishing you the BRIGHTEST Hanukkah!! Thanks for being shining lights in my life!

Ethically,

Emily