Hanukkah VI

A song called “Haneirot Halalu/These Candles” is traditionally sung after we light Hanukkah candles. In this song, we state that we light these candles to remember the saving acts, miracles, and wonders which God performed. We know that the way we remember these acts is through lighting the candles themselves, as if the light of the Hanukkiah has to power to bring us closer to our ancestors who lived through, and directly benefited from, these miracles.

This song also instructs us that we aren’t allowed to use the lights of the Hanukkiah for anything, but we can only look at them because they are sacred. Through looking at the lights we can offer thanks and praise to God’s Great Name.

This is a powerful statement and certainly counter-cultural. We are so used to deriving benefit from everything in our lives and not simply appreciating—looking, really—at the light. Tonight, let’s take some time to just look and appreciate. After lighting your Hanukkah candles, don’t rush off to make dinner or help with homework or watch TV. Just stand there and watch. We don’t use the candles for anything, and for at least just tonight, let’s let the power of the Hanukkah be sacred in their own right.