Lifting Up the Light in Tevet

We have not yet touched

the deep darkness of Tevet.

We are still in Kislev.

So much more the need

to prepare in this time.

Our ancestors did their part,

now we must find the courage to do ours.

As we light a candle each night of Hanukah

and say the blessing,

we see a need that we can fill,

we sense an opening or imagine a person

who needs our forgiveness or compassion.

The Blessed One Lights the Way,

makes firm our step,

renews our strength.

We long for the moon,

but exile does not have to be isolation,

 as we commune together,

in deep connection.

From that spiritual, invisible place

we cleave to God and make manifest

the bright, holy light of hope, awareness, love,

in our unique way, each one and together.