Chanukah is (also) a great time to look back on the year and to seek inner inspiration. The combination of candle lighting and readings can make even more sense of the holiday for you.
The first candle calls for peace. Just as the world was not peaceful in the time of the Maccabees, it is not so today. "When the power of love overcomes the love of power, there will be peace in the world." May this candle be a spark of peace for me, my family, my friends and everyone on earth.
The third candle ignites in us the intention to improve the world. “There was a man who stood before God, his heart broken because of the pain and injustice in the world. “God”, he shouted, “Look at all this suffering. Why don't you send help?” God replied, “I sent. You." (Rabbi David Wolpe)
The flame of the fifth candle will show the diversity of the world and its beauty. “No one is born to hate the other person ... People learn to hate and if you can learn to hate, then love can also be learned ...” (Nelson Mandela)
The seventh candle ignites a spark of compassion. Feeling compassion towards ourselves, our friends, and animals. And feeling compassion also for those we don’t like very much.
How can we accept ourselves and each other? When we light the second candle, keep in mind that most people need acceptance instead of advice.
The fourth candle should light the spark to treating others the way we want them to treat us. "Once someone asked Hillel to teach him the Torah while he stands on one leg. Hillel said to him, Do not do to others what you do not want for yourself. That is the Torah, the rest is explanations. ”
The flame of the sixth candle illuminates the importance of forgiveness which is difficult but worth the effort.
It’s the last night of Chanukah. The grand finale. The eighth and last lit candle ignites a spark of gratitude. "Being grateful is one of the easiest and yet most powerful things people can do to each other." (Randy Pausch)
