To someone who doesn’t pay attention to the Hebrew calendar, Hanukkah falling right around Christmas may not seem particularly abnormal. To others, it may feel like Hanukkah is extremely late this year. Regardless, Hanukkah always arrives on time on the Hebrew calendar—on the 25th of Kislev.
Personally, I love that Hanukkah this year falls after the Winter Solstice because it means that we are truly increasing our light each day of Hanukkah as we add another candle.
Rabbi Dalia Marx, in her book From Time to Time, teaches:
The two systems for lighting Hanukkah lights represent different worldviews…According to Shammai, the world was created whole and perfect, and ever since then, “the generations are successively diminished.” Following this approach, human beings are born with their full potential, with all their lives ahead to achieve it, but each passing day brings them closer to the end and serves as a depressing reminder of what they will not manage to achieve. So too, the Hanukkah menorah is lit at first in its full glory and slowly loses its light until only one light remains. Shammai’s approach sets up a picture of a reality of fullness and perhaps perfection that is progressively marred, each day lowering the bar and coming to terms with our limited abilities.
Hillel’s approach reflects a more optimistic view of life. One starts off small, with just one light, and from there one adds progressively more light. Every new thing that we learn and every action we perform in the world empowers us and enhances our light…Hillel reminds us to strive for the good and the worthy and to increase light in the world.
As we light the first candle tonight, we are lighting the Hanukkah candles right on time. I hope we can each remember that we all have the power to add our light to our world, in our time, and in our generation.
Chag Sameach!
–Yael Farber, Rabbinic Intern