Hanukkah Meditations

Hanukkah, our Festival of Lights, arrives, and we find ourselves in the midst of ongoing darkness—after more than a year. Many find it hard to celebrate. We mourn our losses, worry for the hostages we haven’t yet brought home, pray for our soldiers’ safety, and grieve for the destruction both here and across our borders.
Yet, we light our Hanukkah candles. These flames remind us that even in the darkest times, our ancestors believed in their ability to change the world—one small light at a time. Together, perhaps we can strengthen the light and reaffirm the good in our world.
Each night, we will focus on aone Jewish value connecting Hanukkah to our current struggles, uniting us all, both in Israel and the Diaspora. May these lights illuminate our hearts, inspire our people and the world, and grant us inspiration, courage, and the faith that a new light will yet shine upon Zion.

First Candle: Remembrance
"They are gone from our midst,
With their beauty, their youth, and their splendor.”
(Chaim Guri, Fellowship, translation: Chaya Galai)

On this first night, we light a candle in memory of all the men, women, and children we have lost in the war—those we knew, those we came to know, and so many whom we never had the chance to meet. Each of them was a world unto themselves, leaving behind a legacy of light.
The candles lit tonight across the Jewish world represent these lights, which we will continue to carry in our hearts.
We light this memorial candle in memory of those who were taken from us, and as we gaze upon its flame, we draw strength from the enduring hope of our people: that we will one day see peace in our land and everlasting joy for its inhabitants.

Second Candle: Heroism
"For the miracles, and the redemption, and the mighty deeds,
And the victories, and the wonders, and the consolations.”
— From the Hanukkah Prayer

On this second night, we light a candle to honor the heroism that has shone through the darkness of war, in the actions of so many—in their resourcefulness, their sacrifices, in the fight against the enemy, in protecting children in shelters, in the strength to bear pain and permission to break down.
The heroes of these long months—mothers and fathers, grandparents, soldiers, civilians, children—in Israel and around the world—carry forward the legacy of the Maccabees, the bravery of Hannah and her seven sons, and the courage of generations before us who have passed down a heritage of resilience, spirit, body, and heart.
We light this candle of heroism in honor of the heroes of those days and of our time.

Third Candle: The Human Spirit
"Not by might, nor by power,
But by My spirit,
Says the Lord of hosts.”
(Zechariah 4:6)

On this third night, we light a candle in honor of the spirit that stirs within us as individuals and as a nation—the spirit that rises above the hardships of the body, the spirit that empowers us to act and rebuild even in the face of sorrow and difficult times. This is the same spirit that moved the Maccabees to light a menorah from a small jar of oil, believing it would last eight days. This spirit lifts us from the depths, urging us to rebuild our land and strengthen true relationships within Israeli society, the Jewish people, and the world as a whole.
We light this candle of the human spirit in honor of rising above harsh realities and holding fast to goodness.

Fourth Candle: Healing
“A day will come when we will need to build a new world,
And for every crime and every atrocity, we must respond with love and kindness.”
(Etty Hillesum)

This fourth night, we light a candle in honor of the ability to find healing for the pain of body, heart, and soul. The wounds and pain will not quickly disappear, but in order to live, rebuild, and recover, we must find healing.
In these days, when the nights are long and dark, we remember that the days will return and lengthen, and with them, the light will grow. Children will be born, homes will be rebuilt, trees will be planted, and our culture will rise from the ashes. Our souls will heal, and we will rediscover our capacity for life, joy, and peace.
We light this candle of healing in honor of the healing of soul and body, for all of us, and a special healing for all those injured on October 7th and throughout this year.

Fifth Candle: Mutual Solidarity
“My peace is bound to your peace.”
(Zelda)

On this fifth night, we light a candle in honor of mutual solidarity. Through this bond of solidarity, soldiers risk their lives for their people and country, and through it, we have endured days of fear and war. Many in Israeli society and the Jewish people reach out to one another, offering support and giving selflessly, like a candle that lights another without losing its own flame.
We light this candle of mutual solidarity in honor of our shared and ongoing commitment to caring for one another, to holding hands during difficult times and deep disagreements, and to draw strength from our unity and togetherness.

Sixth Candle: Jewish Peoplehood
"You don’t know me,
and I don’t know you,
but we are the Jewish people.”
(Yehuda Amichai)

On this sixth night, we light a candle in honor of the Jewish people, both in Israel and the Diaspora—a vast family, spread across the globe yet deeply connected. For over a year, Jews in Israel and around the world have come together, supporting, caring, and assisting each other in spirit and in action.
We light this candle of Jewish peoplehood in honor of the many hues that make up our people, celebrating our diverse languages, customs, traditions, and ways of expressing our identity. It honors the bonds of connection and affection that unite us in times of sorrow and joy.

Seventh Candle: Hope
"In the beginning, one candle, and behold, more darkness,
and the solitary flame looks sad,
but soon it will find a friend,
and another, and then more; the darkness will vanish entirely.”
(Theodor Herzl)

On this seventh night, we light a candle in honor of hope, which, like the Hanukkah lights, begins as a small flicker, gradually joined by more and more tiny beacons of hope, more and more brave hearts continuing to sing of our unwavering hope to be a free people in our land, the land of Zion and Jerusalem.
We light this candle of hope in honor of our faith and our cultural heritage, which lift our gaze toward a brighter future.

Eighth Candle: Peace
"Let wars and bloodshed be abolished from the world,
and let a great and wondrous peace prevail.
Nation shall not lift sword against nation,
nor shall they learn war anymore.”
(Attributed to Rabbi Nachman of Breslov)

On this eighth night, we light a candle in honor of peace. Even in times of war, amidst the justified and necessary defense of our state and citizens, we continue to hope for peace—peace within ourselves, among our people, and with our neighbors and the world.
In the shadow of war, we strive to hold onto the possibility of peace. Though the path may be long, difficult, and hard to see, we remain hopeful for days of quiet and security in our land, in our communities, and in the broader world.
Like the small jar that preserved the olive oil until the end of the Maccabees’ struggle, we too will safeguard the hope for peace. With out eyes trained on the olive branches, we will believe that peace will come.
We light this candle of peace in honor of the enduring Jewish aspiration to dwell securely in peace among ourselves and with our neighbors.