Today is the first day of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights.
We’re very bad at menorah-lighting in my house, where we celebrate both Jewish and Christian holidays. But we try. Every year we google the proper order for lighting the candles, the menorah shining brightly against the explosion of Christmas holiday decorations on every surface of our house.
To us, the menorah is more a remembrance of ancestors, especially those lost most recently. We think of them as we light the candles, preserving their memory as we reminisce about the times we shared. Another beautiful Jewish custom calls for candles to be lit every year on the anniversary of a loved one’s passing, both traditions so similar to the candle-lighting I grew up with, kneeling in churches, your lit candle flickering among many as you take a quiet moment to reflect.
During this busy holiday season, with its focus on family and traditions, the simple act of lighting a candle brings so many memories to light.