December
Rabbi Stephanie Breitsman
Rosh Chodesh Sameach! December coincides with the Hebrew month of Kislev – the month of dreams and miracles. At the end of the month, we celebrate the miracle of Hanukkah by lighting candles during the darkest days of the year.
In the Mishneh Torah, Rambam calls the mitzvah of lighting the Hanukkah candles chaviva hi ad m’od—“exceedingly precious.” This is how Rambam – a no-nonsense kind of guy – describes Hanukkah: as a practice so treasured that if one must choose between buying Shabbat wine or Hanukkah candles, the candles take priority. Why? Because they remind us that miracles are possible.
The second blessing we recite when lighting the candles thanks God for performing miracles for our ancestors “in those days, at this time.” In saying this, we’re asserting that this season can return. Miracles are still possible.
Hanukkah tells many stories of miracles: a small amount of oil lasting eight days, a tiny army reclaiming the Temple against overwhelming odds, and light shining through the darkest time of year. And yet, Hanukkah is not just about triumph; it’s about vulnerability – our vulnerability as individuals, as a community, and as a people.
The lesson of miracles is a tender one: we don’t need to know how everything will unfold for it to work out. If we keep putting one foot in front of the other, possibilities we cannot yet imagine may unfold – through human hands, divine guidance, or the mystery of the universe. Hanukkah, our season of miracles, is an invitation to keep going.
We hope you will join us on December 14th for our community Hanukkah celebration and the lighting of the first candle!