Reb Lisa's Message - Hanukkah

Hanukkah begins tomorrow evening at sundown. I look forward to celebrating and connecting with our community during this eight day Festival of Light. We will gather together each night on Zoom from 5:30 - 6:00 pm for blessings, songs, story, and entertainment. All in 30 minutes or less!

Thinking of the glow of the candles in the menorah I was reminded of a gorgeous section of the poem Poppies by Mary Oliver. I offer this to you as a gift as we enter Hanukkah.

….But I also say this: that light

is an invitation

to happiness,

and that happiness,

when it's done right

is a kind of holiness,

palpable and redemptive.

Inside the bright fields,

touched by their rough and spongy gold,

I am washed and washed

in the river

of earthly delight--

and what are you going to do--

what can you do

about it--

deep blue night?

It’s been a challenging year. It’s been a dark year. May the lights of Hanukkah invite you into happiness and holiness. May we carry this into the year 2021 and may it be a year of blessing.