Shabbat of blessing the month of Tevet 5771
 Hanukah 5771

“We bless you, Source of Life, who made miracles in those days, at this season – bazman hazeh. Thank you for giving us life to enable us to reach this moment – lazman hazeh.”(Hanukah liturgy)

These are the words we recite after lighting our Hanukkah candles. The rabbis have long taught that hidden in these words are the understanding that the miracle of light did not just happen once a long time ago, but is renewed each and every year during this Solstice season.  Through our spiritual practice of Tikkun Olam – fixing the world – on all its levels – spiritual, mental, emotional and physical – we bring more light into our world. 

As we kindle the candles of the hanukkiah, our eyes are bathed in light from another dimension, from the timeless place where miracles happen.  This is healing for our sense of sight so that we can truly see beyond the trivial and the ordinary into the essential.  Just as the olive oil for the menorah in the temple represented the distillation of the essence of the olives, so the light of the Hanukkah candles brings the essence of our souls to awareness.  Our spiritual sight is renewed as we gaze into the candlelight so we can see the soul and not just the garment. 

We allow the wondrousness of what-our-world-is fill is us with gratitude and awe.  We allow the wondrousness of what-our-world-can-become inspire us to work together to insure that all beings will experience and celebrate the miracles of this season. 

With blessing for wisdom of heart suffused by the light of clear vision,
Rabbi SaraLeya 
November 29, 2010 |  22 Kislev 5771