“This Too Shall Pass: Rosh Chodesh, Chanukah and Igniting our Inner Light!” by Sarah Engel

The song, “Shake it Out,” by Florence and the Machine has an incredibly profound line right before the chorus. They sing, “It’s always darkest before the dawn.” This true in a literal sense, as indeed in nature the darkest hour is that immediately prior to sunrise. On a deeper level though, this concept has a very important spiritual message for us to internalize, intrinsic to Chanukah, especially in light of the recent tragedies. Chanukah is a time where the few overcame the many, the underdogs, after a regime of unbearable terror, overcome and restore Judaism to it’s former glory. This Chanukah, we must remember that it is always darkest before the dawn. That although things outside may seem sad, dark and gloomy, it must always get darker before the line can begin to shine. Not only have the days gotten shorter these past few days, but terrorism, anti-semitism and evil just seems to be endlessly propagating and multiplying.  Parshat Miketz, 41:1 states, “And it came to pass at the end of two years…” Midrash Tanchuma interprets this seemingly unnecessary “end” as a symbol that every affliction that is set to befall man has a set time to end. All evil will end. There is always hope. Even in the midst of the deepest tragedies and suffering, we must take comfort in knowing that one day, evil will cease to exist.

Rabbi Soloveitchik explains this lesson through the seemingly strange timing of celebrating the new moon. Jews celebrate the new moon when it is visually non-existent, when not a glimmer of light can be seen in the sky. When we celebrate Rosh Chodesh (which also falls out over Chanukah) we are reaffirming our belief of renewal from total despair. Jewish history is defined by periods of darkness, followed by periods of light. As a people, Jews are characterized by arising and renewing from periods of total darkness and despair.

In the meantime, while we wait for the evil to end, we must fight the present darkness, that is the message of Chanukah. We will be saved, and this darkness will end, yet in the meantime we must do our part to fight the darkness.

Charlie Harary spoke in a recently produced Aish video about the nature of Jewish fighting. On Chanukah, we celebrate the miracle of the war by lighting candles, as opposed to re-enacting battles. This is not to say that Jews don’t fight. Jews will defend themselves by sword when attacked. Yet Jews will never instigate fight by sword. Jews fight with light. We avenge Hitler’s plan to decimate the Jewish nation every time we identify as a Jew. We fight the growing anti semitism by making G-d a part of our lives, and allowing ourselves to be guided by our moral and ethical compasses. We fight them all, everyone who has ever tried to kill the Jewish people, not by sword, but rather by spreading acts of kindness, charity, good deeds and LIGHT throughout the world. We must take comfort in this week’s parsha, and remember that while it may seem dark outside now, as not only are the days shorter, but terrorism and evil are on the rise, that there will be a day when all evil will end. However, in the meantime, when the days are short, and the evil is still present we can proactively fight the bad with light. Jews fight with light.

Take an opportunity this Shabbat Chanukah, (hopefully at West Coast Regionals!!!!) to reflect on how you, as an individual can illuminate the world with your unique spark, and like the havdalah candle we’ll be lighting as a region in less than three days, join together with other small flames to create a burning torch, illuminating the way, and fighting the darkness as one, unified nation.