This is the holiday of lights (and Hanukkah candles) and not the electric ones, but rather the oil burning ones. Every year I look outside my window and I also see the beautiful Christmas Lights. They are sparkly and colorful. My kids and I love to drive around looking at them and we like to find the most outlandish yards that have about 5000 lights on them. It's like Christmas on steroids and almost burns your eyes looking at them. At any rate, we (at least most of us) don't use electric lighting for Hanukkah. We use olive oil and wicks (or candles). They produce a small, yet intense light that when placed against your window, reflect and reflect and reflect. And, we sing and we sit and watch our lights burn. We think and we remember. It's a quiet time of reflection (amongst the ripping open of a few gifts too). It's a dark time of year and yet, just a tiny light can be seen from so far. Our synagogue has put up some electric blue lights around the window. This drives my husband batty. He cannot figure out why on earth we would string Christmas lights around our synagogue window. "But, honey, they're blue," I tell him. "They're Hanukkah lights." He shakes his head and says, "They're Christmas lights and it's just wrong." I hear him. I'm not exactly sure why those lights are put up, except someone thought it would be nice and they're blue. It's like, "Hey, we're Jewish. We have blue lights." Plus, the lighting companies aren't getting enough sales from Christmas shoppers so they're trying out the Jewish shoppers and our synagogue fell for it. It's probably along the same lines as why he doesn't like my Hanukkah ball earrings. For him, and for most of us, we just don't need to be anything other than what we are. We have a menorah (or Hanukiah to those who want to discuss terminology). It is powerful and inspiring and if that's not enough for you, then the jelly donuts and latkes will help remind you each morning. Anyway, If you haven't taken a chance to sit and watch your candles or oil burn, do so. We are so very blessed to have this wondrous holiday. If it weren't for a few people who stood up for exactly who they were, well, I don't want to think about that. I'm just glad they did. I'm glad they chose to be authentically unique, different and committed. Happy Hanukkah. May your holidays be full of light. #Hanukkah candles #happy Hanukkah
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