If you’re like me, you may have a similar thought every day around 3 p.m. this time of year: “I can’t believe the sun is already setting!” It may even feel like you’re having that thought earlier and earlier each day. Thankfully, this past Saturday marked the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, which means the days are now getting longer again and the sun will start setting later. But unfortunately, there isn’t any immediate satisfaction; yesterday I said to myself yet again, “I can’t believe the sun is already setting!” Deep down, I know that we’re on our way to longer days and more light, but we’re not there quite yet—so we look to the light around us.
In the coming week, we will increase light around the world. From the Winter Solstice, to the lights of Christmas and then the eight nights of Hanukkah, we have so much light all around us—if only we allow ourselves to see it. There is something so beautiful about the lights of this season—from string lights lining streets and front yard decorations, to window sills and house decorations, light is truly everywhere. A specific light display may be beautiful the first, second, and third time you see it, but it can lose its charm as it blends into the days and begins to feel mundane. How can we hold onto, and celebrate, this light day after day? We can take a suggestion from our Shabbat practice.
On Friday nights, we light the candles and cover our eyes before truly revealing the lit candles. When I light my candles and cover my eyes, I take a deep breath and exhale the week I am leaving behind (being careful not to blow out the candles!). Uncovering my eyes, I take a moment to marvel at the beauty of the flames in front of me. While the individual flames would reach their full strength whether we close our eyes or not, the light of the candle shines immediately brighter when we go from darkness to light.
I’m not suggesting that we close our eyes while driving past a beautiful light display, but I am suggesting that while you’re on a walk and you approach something shining bright— maybe a neighbor’s Christmas decorations or a big blow-up Chanukiyah— you can take a moment to pause, close your eyes, and open them to the beauty and light of this season.
–Yael Farber, Rabbinic Intern