Hanukkah 5762: A Kavannah with Each Light Created by Rabbi Sharon Brous and Rachel Gartner Marshall T. Meyer Rabbinic Fellows Keva vs. Kavannah Keva. Fixed or established elements of the tradition and liturgy Kavannah. Direction or intention that allows us to offer words or deeds as gifts of inner devotion "The truth is that the absolute contrast between expression (kavannah) and empathy (keva) exists only in abstraction. In human experience they are intimately intertwined; the one cannot happen without the other. And act of empathy is involved in genuine expression, and profound empathy generates expression." R. Abraham Joshua Heschel, "Quest for God", p.31 First Night | Second Night | Third Night | Fourth Night | Fifth Night | Sixth Night | Seventh Night | Eighth Night First Night: Light in Darkness   Keva: Hanukkah comes at the darkest time of the year; the days are the short, and the nights are long. It is a time when we are susceptible to feelings of despair. And so our tradition brings us candlelight. As the Hanukkah candles flood our homes with light, so too our souls are lit up, warmed and enlivened by the flames. Kavannah: How do Jewish rituals bring light into our lives? What people in our lives bring us light? As we light the hanukkiah, let us offer prayers of gratitude for that which brings us light. Second Night: Integrity of the Individual   Keva: The Book of Maccabees teaches that one man, Mattitiahu son of Yohanan, started the rebellion against the Hellenistic powers. One man, alone, was able to motivate his family, and ultimately his community, to fight for the cause of justice. Similarly, it was one cruse of oil that was able to miraculously spread the light for eight consecutive days. The integrity and possibility of each individual, hinted at in our sacred story, also reveals itself in the practice of lighting the hannukiah. We learn: "haneirot halalu kodesh heim - all of these lights are sacred and distinct." Each candle, like each person, stands on its own, as an individual, with full integrity and potential. Kavannah: Who are the individuals in our lives who have inspired us the most? As we light tonight's candles, let us think of the ways in which we, as individuals, can recommit ourselves to the struggles most dear to our hearts. Third Night: Waking Up to the Miraculous   Keva: Before kindling the hanukkiah we praise God: "...she'asah nisim la'avoteynu bayamim haheim bazeman hazeh -- the One Who wrought miracles for our ancestors, in those days at this season." Hanukkah commemorates both the historical events (military and political victories) and the miracles (the oil that lasted eight days) that have sustained the Jewish people in the face of near destruction and brought us to times of celebration. Kavannah: What extraordinary experiences (spiritual insights, connections to the Divine, etc.) have brought us to our celebration of Hanukkah tonight? As we light the hanukkiah, let us contemplate how we can increase awareness of the miraculous in our lives. Fourth Night: Recognition of Strength and Courage   Keva: It is customary to read the Apocryphal story of Judith during Hanukkah. In this story, Judith, a Jew, conquers the enemy general through her wit and courage. In the ancient world-view, Judith, a woman, was a rather unlikely hero. And yet, it is she who saves the entire Jewish people. Kavannah: Judith symbolically recalls the strength inside each one of us; strength that often goes unnoticed, hidden even to ourselves, until it is called forth by trying times or extraordinary circumstances. As we light the hanukkiah tonight, let us express gratitude for our own strengths, and for the strengths we see in those we love. And in so doing, may our strength increase. Fifth Night: Preservation of Our Core Values   Keva: In the Book of Maccabees, Eleazar the Scribe was tortured by the Hellenists, and forced to violate the laws of his people. Several authorities gave him the opportunity to save himself by simply pretending to violate the commandments. He said: "It is not becoming at my stage of life to pretend, and so lead many young people to suppose that Eleazar, when ninety years old, has given over to heathenism, and to be led astray through me, because of my pretense for the sake of this short and insignificant life, while I defile and disgrace my old age... Therefore do I prove myself worthy of my great age, and leave to the young a noble example..." Kavannah: What are the core values, that define us as human beings? As we light the fifth candle, let us consider and share with our loved ones the legacy that we wish to leave behind. Sixth Night: Publicizing the Miracle   Keva: The Talmud teaches that one of obligations of Hanukkah is pirsumei nisa, publicizing the miracle that happened to our people: "One should place the hannukiah by the door of the house, on the outside [if possible]... If one resides in an upper story apartment, the lamp should be placed in a window overlooking the public domain... In times of danger, one may place the hannukiah inside the house, on the table" (Shabbat 21b). Kavannah: Tonight we contemplate: when have we felt unsafe or uncomfortable practicing our Judaism publicly? As we light tonight's candles, let us think about the elements of our Jewish heritage that make us proud, that we would like to share with others. Seventh Night: Rededication of the Self   Keva: Hanukkah means dedication. The Talmud (Shabbat 21b) says that after the Maccabees liberated Jerusalem they reclaimed and rededicated the Temple from its defilement. Kavannah: Inspired by Hanukkah, let us rededicate ourselves to that which brings light and holiness to our souls and to the world. As we light the hanukkiah, we recommit ourselves to the communities, organizations, relationships, and activities that are most important to us. Eighth Night: Gifts We Give, and Those We Allow Ourselves to Receive   Keva: There are many festive customs associated with the observance of Hanukkah, including special games, songs, and sweet foods. It has also become the practice in our time to give gifts to loved ones on Hanukkah. Kavannah: As we light tonight's candles, let us consider the gifts that we give, on a daily basis, to the people we love. How can we be more giving -- of our time, our energy, our strength? Let us also consider: how can we open ourselves to accept the gifts of love, support, and encouragement that others offer us?