Rabbi David B. Helfand's Chanukah Message for 2024

For our Chanukah holiday issue, we invited members of our community to share their responses.

Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, the Kedushat Levi, teaches that each Jewish holiday corresponds to one of the senses. Purim engages our hearing as we listen to the Megillah. Passover enhances taste through matzah and marror. Chanukah, he explains, is the holiday of seeing. During Chanukah, we focus on our vision, observing the menorah’s lights grow brighter each night and reflecting on the miracle of the oil and the courage to light it.

However, Chanukah challenges us to see beyond the physical. Often, we believe that “seeing is believing”—that only what we observe is real. This mindset risks dismissing the unseen realities of emotions, ideas, and dreams that define our lives. Chanukah calls us to deepen our vision, recognizing the unseen and appreciating the miracles that exist within and around us.

The rabbis describe the Hellenistic period as a time of choshech, darkness. The Greeks sought not only to conquer but to darken our spiritual vision, blinding us to God’s presence and the light within ourselves. Chanukah’s flames remind us to reclaim that light, to illuminate what was hidden, and to see the deeper truths of our lives.

George Orwell wrote, “To see what is in front of one’s nose needs a constant struggle.” Even with perfect eyesight, we can miss what truly matters. The Hasmoneans didn’t focus on their few numbers or meager resources. Instead, they saw hope and trusted in God’s presence. Their ability to perceive possibility where others saw failure led to victory and lasting light.

Consider the story of the Rabbi of Bluzhov in Bergen-Belsen. Using scraps of materials, he lit the Chanukah candles and recited the blessings, including one thanking God for preserving life. When questioned how he could say this amidst such horror, he explained that seeing the gathered Jews, holding onto faith despite their suffering, was itself a miracle. Their hope illuminated the darkness, proving that light can exist even in despair.

As we light the menorah, we are called to deepen our vision. May these candles inspire us to see blessings in those we love, discover hidden beauty in the world, and recognize miracles in unexpected places. Through the light of Chanukah, may we illuminate our lives and the lives of others.

Rabbi David B. Helfand is the Engagement Rabbi at Congregation Shearith Israel.