Happy Hanukkah! As we reflect this week on light and miracles, we invite you to join us for our many opportunities to celebrate together: www.WiseLA.org/hanukkah
The rabbis of the Talmud debated—as they were wont to do—about the order of lighting the Hanukkah candles. Beit Shammai—the followers of the rabbi Shammai—believed that the holiday should begin with as much light as possible. Their suggestion, then, was to light eight lights the first night and decrease by one candle each night. On the eighth night, their Hanukkiah would be one single candle shining alongside the shamash.
Beit Hillel, who followed Hillel the rabbi, had another opinion. Why, they asked, would you want to diminish light in the darkest time of the year? No, they said—we will only increase each night. Their concern, however, was not only light, but holiness. Ma’alin b’kedusha, they taught—we can only increase holiness in the world, v’lo yoridin, and not diminish it. As you might have guessed from your own Hanukkiah, Rabbi Hillel’s worldview won out—and we increase by one candle each day.
Today is the first day of Hanukkah. Later today we will add another candle and bring not only more light, but also—we pray—more holiness into the world.
— Rabbi Sari Laufer