Be the Hanukkah Light

This evening, we lit the Hanukkah candles a bit broken-hearted,  with shards shared with the Jewish community of Sydney, Australia, the college community at Brown University, and now also with the family of actor and director Rob Reiner. It is hard to celebrate when the past two days have brought such hatred and violence. 

On the menorah, there is one candle that is separated from the others – the shamash. The shamash is the helper candle.  It has a job  - making sure all the other candles are lit.   According to the legends of Hanukkah, the other candles mark the Hanukkah miracle.  The shamash ensures that the other candles can reach their potential, a selfless task.  

Today, in Sydney, a man named Ahmed al Ahmed was a bright light amid a terrible and dark moment.  He selflessly tackled one of the gunmen, disarming him and, in all probability, saving many lives. He is like the shamash, willing to put himself out there for others, willing to dedicate himself to letting others shine. May Ahmed al Ahmed serve as an example – to give ourselves freely, bravely, and without prejudice.  May we strive to be like the shamash.  

According the Hanukkah legend, the Maccabees reclaimed the Temple and found it in disarray.  They only located a little bit of oil – far less than was needed.  We know what it feels like to be depleted.  But each year, we reenact a miracle.  We increase the light until the menorah is shining bright.  May we grow in light and glow this Hanukkah.  And may we be helpers, upstanders, changemakers in our world – the shamash. 

May your Hanukkah be filled with light.

May our world be filled with light.