Hannuka #1: Shining your light

Hannuka is a Jewish holiday of light and miracles, and tonight was the first night.

A typically joyous occasion, I woke up to discover the first of two shootings that targeted Jews.

Later this evening, I gathered with the Jewish community of the Pacific Palisades as one of the first events to be held in the town I used to live in, the town that was caught in a raging wildfire earlier this year.

The community lit the menorah (the jewish candle holder for this holiday) and sang prayers. It was more than a Jewish event, it was a community events.

For the next week, we’ll identify places of darkness and set our intentions on spreading light to them.

As one of my rabbi’s said, “We don’t hope for miracles. We count on them.”

And this mentality shall carry into the new year.

With light,
O