(Bemidbar
Rabbah 13)
Tziporah:
My favorite night of
Hanukkah is the last night, when each of us lights our favorite menorah. That’s
45 candles: 8, plus 1 server to light the others, times 5 family members,
burning for at least 30 minutes. My
spouse usually remarks that our dining room resembles the nave of a cathedral,
which conjures memories of my childhood visit to St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New
York City. In the text that I quoted, the
early rabbis use the physical properties of a candle’s flame to focus on light
as a metaphor for wisdom. This is one message of Hanukkah, the celebration of
which involves adding candles each night to increase the light. Many religions prescribe candle
lighting and singing to dispel the darkness of the winter solstice. When we light
a flame in our own homes and houses of worship, and we keep one another in our
prayers, I have no doubt that we will increase the light in the world and the
warmth in our hearts.
Grace:
Tziporah, your delightful family
tradition on the last night of Hanukkah makes me smile as I imagine all that
flame! It also brings to mind these words from a familiar song: “If everyone
lit just one little candle, what a bright world this would be!” That same song makes
the connection you make between the light of a candle and a prayer that brings
light into dark places. How much we need to heed that call to prayer in our
world today: Darkness and evil can never be eliminated, I think, but I also
believe with people of every faith tradition that darkness cannot prevail where
the light of God shines. A favorite verse of mine from Christian scripture
affirms, “The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome
it.” (The Gospel of John 1:5) In
another account, Jesus speaks words that I see as applying to people of good
will everywhere: “You are the light of the world.” (The Gospel of Matthew 5:14, emphasis mine) What an awesome calling
to be light for one another!
Yasmina:
Although the Islamic
tradition does not call for physical lighting of candles, the notion of sharing
and increasing the light brings to my mind many positive associations. I recall
immediately the beginning of a Hadith that I have memorized. It is a Hadith about
charity; the type of charity that is not limited to financial giving, but
encompasses any form of voluntarily sharing one’s knowledge, time, advice and
emotional support: “Charity does not in any way decrease the wealth.”* Many verses of the Quran and other Hadiths
emphasize the superiority of light over darkness and the many forms in which each
is manifested. Light is wisdom and blessings, and all that is of benefit to us.
Light is also equated with prayer, guidance, knowledge, piety and
righteousness; these noble qualities will all take the form of physical light
on the Day of Judgment. There is one last, unique depiction of light that is
visible to the angels and attracts them to visit its source: it is the light
that emanates from houses where the remembrance of God is fundamental.
* Charity does not in any way decrease the wealth; and the servant who
forgives, God adds to his respect; and the one who shows humility, God elevates
him in the estimation of the people.” (Sahih
Muslim, Book 32, Hadith 6264)
