Shmoozy Nuz, December 11th, 2020

SHMOOZY NUZ

Events, News, and Shmooz

Rabbi Hannah's Letter

Dear Friends,

I hope your Chanukkahs are off to a beautiful start and that, if it’s been underwhelming so far, there’s space to bring some light and beauty in over the course of the next week. Like I wrote last week, we need Chanukkah more than ever this winter; the inward-looking brightening, nurturing, and coziness of the holiday paired with the outward-looking rededication to what we believe in is just what this season is calling for.

There’s a children’s book about Chanukkah that I really like for teaching the story of the holiday -- not the story based on the rabbinic midrash about the oil lasting for eight days instead of one, but the stories based on 1 and 2 Maccabees, and the struggles our ancestors faced living through the pressure to assimilate, followed by forced assimilation and violence. It’s called “Festival of Lights” by Maida Silverman, and it’s honestly a good refresher even for adults.

My favorite page, following the one in which the Maccabees return to Jerusalem to find the Temple totally destroyed and desecrated and filled with Greek idols and filth, goes like this:

“The statues were taken away. Children helped pull weeds. New doors were brought. The Altar was rebuilt. Craftsmen made new dishes, furniture, and a beautiful gold Menorah lamp. Weavers made curtains for the walls.

The Temple was ready to be dedicated again to God. People came from all over Judea. For eight days they danced, sang, and praised the Lord. Judah Maccabee spoke to them. ‘We will celebrate this great event every year at this time,’ he said. ‘Hanukkah means dedication. We will call the holiday “Hanukkah”.’”

I l0ve the reminder -- for kids and grown-ups, for Jews and our allies, for “essential workers” and others -- that each one of us is essential in the work to rebuild and repair our struggling communities and our broken world. Whether our work right now is commuting to a hospital or staying at home, reaching out to youth or to elders, spreading joy or virtually sitting with people in their sadness, we each have a critical role.

This time of rededication, of Chanukkah, is our reminder as a people, and our reminder as individual people, of what we can and must do to rebuild, repair, and bring new light. And, of course, to recharge, on the Shabbat of Chanukkah in particular.

Wishing you a bright Shabbat and a happy Chanukkah,

Rabbi Hannah

THANK YOU!

Hill Havurah greatly appreciates the following donors who made

generous contributions last month.

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Jonathan & Julie Davis | General Hill Havurah Fund

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Jessica Smith | General Hill Havurah Fund

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Jacqueline Stark | General Hill Havurah Fund

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Roberta Shapiro & Jerry Glandon | General Hill Havurah Fund