ב"ה   A Chanukah Message

Dear All, 

We are impressed by great moments of scientific discovery -the Eureka! Moments. The good news about the rapid development of several Covid-19 Vaccines is a good example of the following: Most advances in scientific, medical and technological fields are not made by lone geniuses coming up with  great ideas like Einstein’s e=mc2 . 

Rather, they are achieved by painstaking efforts by many in laboratories and hospitals learning, testing and building bit by bit  until all the pieces are in place and a new treatment for an illness, a new technology or even a new  scientific paradigm emerges. 

  One of the great spiritual themes of Chanukah are the numerous lessons derived from the Menorah / Chanukiah. Each night we light one additional lamp or candle which shines out into the darkness. 

Let us focus on one of those many lessons - the power of constant growth. The light of the candles on the eighth night is much greater than that seen on the first night.  We get there by adding just one every evening and keeping alight the ones we lit the night before. We do not see a great difference every evening from the one before, but we do see a huge difference as we look back to the first day. 

This seemingly simple observation carries within it a profound truth- It is not the size of the steps we take that matters, but that we take them regularly and that we take them together.

If we add something to our personal Judaism and our community, however small- each day, week, month, and year the amount of accomplishment and growth we can look back on in retrospect will be great. 

As a matter of a fact we will have accomplished far more than we will have than if we resolve to make great leaps in our Jewish lives.

 This is for 3 reasons: First, we usually never get around to making that leap we resolved to make on Yom Kippur (or whenever). We usually put it off until we take out the garbage or whatever, but by the time we get around to it garbage day is here again- as it comes every week. Secondly, even if we make the leap it usually does not last. Third, even if we succeed with the great leap, we still would have accomplished more by making constant small steps.

In these difficult times of lockdown and isolation we can take those small steps: Call someone, attend a socially distanced service only if it is safe for you. Certainly, do join a risk-free zoom class or service.

We have a great variety -something for everyone. I can do even more, just put in a request.

Invite a friend. If you know someone; member or non-member, who could use a call let me know – I will reach out. 

May the lights of Chanukah lead us safely through the literal and figurative darkness of this winter, step by step.

May G-d grant all of us physical, mental, and spiritual health, and when we emerge from this situation lets make sure that we come together and light up the community more than ever.

And we will!

Sincerely,

Your Rabbi,

Shlomo Yaffe