Lessons From Chanukah

There are so many messages to take from Chanukah. There are so many lessons to learn from a candle. The neshama, the soul of each person is compared to a candle. Just like a candle always shines upwards, no matter which direction you turn it, so too, each person truly strives to go upwards. No matter which direction you turn, which situation a person is in, deep down each person really wants to go up, to get closer to Hashem. There is always a flickering flame, a pintele yid, inside the soul of every person. No matter how far they may have strayed, no matter what things they have done in their lives, a Jew always yearns to get closer to Hashem and you can never, ever give up on a Jewish soul.

A person might think to themselves, how important am I? I'm just one little person in this huge world! Does it really matter if I do the right thing? Does it really make a difference if I act in the proper manner? Does anyone really care?

So I wanted to share with you another message we can take from candles, flames and from the Chanukah story.

All it takes is one little flame to brighten up a room...it may have been dark but now the room has been illuminated. That's the significance of one candle.

During the time of the miracle of Chanukah, there was no pure oil to light the menorah. And then ONE jug was found! Just one jug! What could be accomplished with one little jug of oil?! But they tried. The menorah was lit. It was a message as if to say, we may not have the ability to make this menorah stay lit for the amount of time it will take to get more pure oil but we will do ours and leave the rest up to Hashem. This is the power of one small, pure jug of oil. Hashem did the rest and the menorah stayed lit for eight days!

So when you think you are just one in a million, think about the Chanukah story, the Chanukah miracle and remember how important YOU are! You are one person who has tremendous significance and you can and will shine!

Every night, after the menorah is lit, the following bracha is said: She'asah nissim La'avoseinu, Bayamim Haheim, bazman hazeh-He performed miracles for our forefathers, in those days, in our times. Chanukah is a special time for miracles. It is a time for us to take a moment to reflect on the miracles Hashem has done for us in the past and a time to daven for miracles in our own lives. Take some time to daven for good things to happen for yourself and for those around you!

May each of you experience your own miracles very soon!