Finding the God Sparks in Our Lives
What is Chanukah?
The Sages taught: Chanukah begins on the twenty-fifth of Kislev, and continues for eight days.
What is the reason?
When the Greeks entered the Sanctuary in Jerusalem, they polluted all the oils that were in the Sanctuary. And when the Maccabees, the Jewish Hasmonean monarchy overcame them and won against them, the people who cared for the Temple searched and found only one container of oil left sealed, undisturbed by the Greeks. And there was only one day’s worth of oil in that container. But A miracle occurred: the oil in that one container lit the menorah for eight days. The next year, the Sages made those days official holidays, recitation of hallel and special thanksgiving in prayer and blessings. (Babylonian Talmud Shabbat 21b)
There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. - Albert Einstein
Blessed are You, Adonai, who lights our lives
Questions to Consider:
- What miracles do you see in your life and in our world?
- What miracles would you want to see in the world in the year to come?
- What are the benefits of seeing nothing as a miracle – and what might be some of the drawbacks? How might seeing everything as a miracle change your perspective?
- What is one thing you want to do to dedicate yourself to adding more light in our darkened world?
Individual Activities
Journal
Where do you experience a sense of light in your life? What people, places, actions, or behaviors bring you the greatest sense of inner illumination? How do you understand God in these moments?
Walk It Out
Take a walk today and look for God in the natural world.
Where do you see evidence of God in your surroundings?
Be the Miracle
Be the miracle in the life of a Sterling Elementary School family – tonight is the last night to participate in this year’s Giving Tree!
Family Activities
Make an Oil Menorah
Learn to make a traditional oil menorah together from PJ Library.
Experiment
Conduct some at home science experiments with oil.
Make Oil Art
Learn how to do marbling with oil.
