Hanukah: Letting Our Light Grow

Rabbi Ariel Platt

Hanukah begins Sunday at sundown and continues through Monday, December 22nd. Each evening, families and communities mark the holiday by lighting the Hanukah menorah (hanukiyah). One candle is added each night—placed from right to left, then lit from left to right—so that the newest light shines first.

This practice comes from a beautiful debate between two ancient rabbinic schools, Hillel and Shammai, recorded in the Talmud (a central text of Jewish teaching and law). Beit Shammai taught that Hanukah should begin with all eight lights on the first night and decrease by one each evening. Beit Hillel taught the opposite: begin with a single light and increase night by night until all eight glow brightly.

The Talmud explains that Hillel’s view became our tradition because, in matters of holiness, we aim to elevate rather than diminish. In other words, we increase the light.

The Baal Shem Tov (an influential 18th-century Jewish spiritual teacher) expressed this idea beautifully when he taught that “From every human being there rises a light.” When we nurture that inner light it grows, just like the menorah’s flame.

During this darkest time of year, Hanukah reminds us that even small lights can shine powerfully, and that our light is something we can expand day by day. As we enter the holiday, may we each find ways to increase our own light and help illuminate the world around us. As the Maccabeats sing in their KPop Demon Hunters Hanukah parody, “Cuz we’re still builders. Cuz we’re still strivers. Cuz we have heroes. We have survivors. The dreamers. The fighters. We’re broken. We’re tired. But we’ll keep the fire and I’ll be right here by your side.”

Chag Sameach! Happy Hanukah!