Hanukkah is here! For 2020 the official dates are December 10 to 18. The eight-day festival Jewish people celebrate to mark the return of one of their two temples in Jerusalem. Since our eldest converted, we are happy to honor the occasion at our home as well.
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| A Hanukkah menorah seen in Kiel, Germany in 1932. |
On Hanukkah 1932, months before Hitler rose to power, Rabbi Posner’s wife, Rachel, took a photo of the family Hanukkah menorah from the window ledge of their Kiel home overlooking the building across the street adorned with Nazi flags.
On the back, she wrote in German: “Hanukkah 5692, ‘Death to Judah,’ So the flag says, ‘Judah will live forever,’ So the light answers.'” The Posners escaped to British Mandate Palestine in 1934.
“Everyone must know that within them burns a candle — and that no one’s candle is identical with the candle of another, and that there is no human being without a candle. One is obligated to work hard to reveal the light of one’s candle in the public realm for the benefit of the many. One needs to ignite one’s candle and make of it a great torch to enlighten the whole world.” ~ Rav Abraham Isaac Kook, 19th/20th-century Kabbalist
In these dark times we are being called upon to blaze bright and brave in a new world. These holidays we continue the fight for a better world for all. One were we resist, persist, insist in defeting those who seek to destroy our light and love.
We stand together against hate and with everyone feeling fearful in these uncertain times. We open our arms wide in a warm embrace for a world turned hard and cold.
We all join in and shine out - bigger and brighter.
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