Chanukah is coming early this year. Fortunately, it lets us have a head start on the holiday season.

When we take the time to participate in the mitzvah of lighting the Chanukah menorah we are rekindling God's light amidst a world that too often appears to us gloomy and dark. With each light lit, we Jewishly reaffirm our faith in a world that will never lose hope and never give into despair.

Chanukah recalls our story of the victorious Maccabees who defeated the much more powerful Greeks. When we recall the miracle of the oil that was enough for one day, yet lasted eight, the greatest miracle of all is the Jewish heart that would have lit the oil knowing there wasn't enough to last, but, believing in the possibility of miracles nevertheless.

Chanukah comes during the darkest time of the year. Winter is setting in. The sun's presence has been shortened during our awakened hours. So, we bring the light and warmth back into our lives with our Festival of Lights.

The Jewish reality is we do this miraculous ritual behavior each and every week; when we light our Shabbat candles to begin the Sabbath, and our Havdallah candle to end the sabbath. God's day of rest; our utopian 24 hour island in time; is a day bookended by God's light being present in our lives.

Lighting a candle for each day of the week during Chanukah, and then one extra day for good measure, is a reminder that we should never go anywhere without living up to our moral spiritual charge by God: "Be a light unto the nations".

This Chanukah, rekindle our light and help make brighter the divine lights of all others.

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Shabbat Shalom & Happy Chanukah!!

-Rabbi Mitch