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Done each year, this will result in a rich treasure chest of family memories. The next year give copies of the previous year's video as Hanukkah gifts to those who attended, as well as family who couldn't make it.
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One night have a
personal or family check - in - How are we spiritually alive and vital as a person/family? How are we suffering under the norms of the larger culture? How can we dedicate ourselves to spiritual vitality? Brainstorm a family list of exciting and helpful options for a more alive, soulful existence. Set a few dates for implementation of important ideas which arise and perhaps give individual assignments. |
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Light Readings By yourself or with guests, gather all of the
things, poems, For example, one year I brought a kaleidescope, another year a beautiful sun catcher, another year a poem about light, this year my son brought up something improbable that turns out to exist: a solar flashlight! A story about Nelson Mandela was brought by one person and that of Rabin by another, Hannah Sennesh by another. |
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Israel Night This is where everyone brings a
clipping, item or idea about the modern Maccabbees and their state: Israel.
The clippings would be about both amazing and challenging things that are going on in
Israel or about Israel. Let each person present what they brought and figure out a
way to bless it after a thorough discussion. |
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A lovely practice
I learned from my teacher, Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, is to take all change out of my
pockets before lighting shabbat candles and put it into a tzedakah box (collection
box for charity). (His family had a "shabbos box" where wallets and keys would
also go to be retrieved after shabbat ended.) When everyone in a household does this, the tzedakah boxes get very full. (One year over $1500 dollars...sometimes we would put in even more than pocket change to celebrate someone wonderful in our lives) On one of the nights of Hanukkah open all of the tzedakah boxes in the house and count the money. I keep a tzedakah box on the counter by my desk at work, many mitzvah-centered Jews and non-Jews who come through the building help to keep it brimming. On another night of Hanukkah decide which important causes to send the money to. |
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Have every person bring a clipping about a cause they believe needs funding in the most immediate way. Each person also brings three blank checks with them. Have everyone present their cause and reasons. Have each person privately fill in each of their checks in the amount of their choice for the causes which most strike them as important to send light to on this Hanukkah night. Families who are doing the tzedakah box collection described earlier in this list can regroup on the last night of Hanukkah to allocate the funds to the causes presented tonight.
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Bring light into someone's life Find a shelter for battered woman, or homeless persons or elders (etc.) and bring your menorah over their for lighting. Listen to the Torah of each person's life with care...invite them each to light a candle and express their greatest hopes for their future or most precious memory of light in their lives. Bless them to attain their dreams. Talk to the center director and find out what is needed, with money from the tzedakah box project above obtain something needed by that community and bring it over. If you have children in your life, make sure they come along with you and help with the blessings and decisions!
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A long-standing practice is to silently
watch the candles burn. Loosely focus your eyes on the menorah and savor the minutes
of pure light. Notice what comes up for you, even after the last flame has
sizzle-fizzled out. What blessings have occured for you during the eight nights of
lights? Share your experiences or journal on them. If it's a lonely time for
you, please email me, I'd love to know you are there sharing this time with me.
R'Goldie
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