Lighting Up the Impossible! Happy Chanukah!

December seems to come around faster every year. Suddenly we are back in holiday mode with school breaks, family trips, end of year reflections, and this week, the beautiful glow of Chanukah. It is a season that nudges us to pause and notice the blessings we often rush past.

For Chanie and me, this year feels especially blessed. Just last week in South Africa, we were surrounded by relatives and friends who had flown in from across the world for the wedding of our son Ephraim and Basheva. To stand under the chuppah with so many loved ones who travelled great distances simply to share in our simcha was profoundly moving. Moments like these highlight the holiness of family coming together, not only to celebrate milestones, but to bring their warmth, their joy, and their presence into our holidays and holy days.

Although, as many will quietly admit, not all family gatherings are smooth sailing. Even in loving families, things can get complicated. A comment said without thinking, a misunderstanding left unspoken, feelings quietly pushed aside. Before long, hurt settles in, and people who once saw only the best in each other begin to struggle.

This week’s parsha tells a story we all know: Yosef, his dreams, the colourful coat, the jealousy, the drama. But beneath the familiar details lies something deeper. The entire journey of the Jewish people — the descent into Egypt, the exile, and the eventual Exodus — begins not with politics or war, but inside a single complicated family.

And yet, that same family becomes a story of remarkable transformation. Yosef’s descent becomes the path to his rise. The brothers who once battled jealousy grow into tribal leaders. Their struggles and their growth form the foundation of a nation built on hope and faith. A nation that learns early on that G-d can take the most tangled beginnings and turn them into miraculous endings.

Which brings us to Chanukah, the festival of light and unexpected miracles.
Chanukah teaches us that great change often starts with something small. A tiny jug of oil burns for eight days. A small group of Maccabees stands up to an empire. One spark lights an entire home. One act of courage changes the course of history.

The lesson is simple and profound: light does not have to be overwhelming to be transformative. It just has to be lit. A kind word. A warm gesture. A step toward forgiveness. A moment of connection. Small acts of goodness can illuminate a home and uplift a heart far more than we imagine. Even when we cannot yet see the full picture, a divine story is already unfolding.

As we gather with family and friends around the chanukiah, let us choose to focus on what is bright. On the blessings we do have. On the people we love. On the simple opportunities to bring a little more warmth, joy, and unity into our homes.

May the flames of the menorah warm our homes, deepen our connection to one another, and remind us that even the smallest spark of goodness can open the door to miracles beyond anything we could have imagined.

Shabbat Shalom and happy Chanukah!

Rabbi Levi and Chanie