This Hanukkah, we need to light a candle –together –in our dark world

Philadelphia Daily News, December, 2006 by RABBI MORDY FRIEDMAN & LIMOR FRIEDMAN

AMID the many bright lights, colors and festive themes of the holiday season, we celebrate the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights. This two-thousand-year-old holiday is celebrated by lighting candles each of the eight days of Hanukkah. Is it coincidental that lights are the focus of the holiday season? Is it coincidental that Judaism, Christianity and the celebration of Kwanzaa share in their expression of the holiday spirit by illuminating our streets and homes? Is there special significance to lights? There is a story told about a young zealous student who was so disturbed by the overpowering darkness of the night that he was prepared to dedicate himself to fight off that darkness as the sun set.

He sought advice from his sagely teacher, who suggested that he take a broom outside and sweep away the darkness, preventing it from invading the air. The student swept and swept, ...