Chanukah begins this Friday, and while I always look forward to Chanukah, the holiday that comes every December in the midst of the winter darkenss, I am more excited for it than usual. Not that I have any big parties to anticipate, as those are a relic of the past for now. Not that I am excited about going on any trips or outings or out-of-town vacations. Not this year, and we all know why. Because Covid, right?

And yet, Chanukah, the mere mention of the word brings up happy feelings and hope for me. During these dark times of death and illness, Chanukah is a welcome diversion. And more than the distraction of the preparations of buying what we need to celebrate the holiday, the mere mention of lights brings me hope. The vision of candles burning brightly in our windows makes me smile.

Chanukah (or Hanukkah, or however we spell it) is the celebration of lights and miracles. On Chanukah, Jewish people proclaim our gratitude for the little bit of oil that was only enough for one day in the ancient Temple. That tiny bit of oil miraculously lasted for a full eight days in the Menorah. On Chanukah we light the candles of the menorah for eight days, each day increasing one more candle. By the eighth day, all eight are illuminating brightly in front of our windows.

For me, the menorah lights and  the story of the oil that lasted eight days instead of one, has meaning. That’s because the eight days of oil coming from just one small flask represents the possiblity of all of us to stretch our small resources and make them produce so much.

The idea of stretching our resources seems so difficult these days. When so many of us feel lacking in basic needs, and  we struggle with finances, loneliness, sickness, and anxiety, the idea of seeing the light is so hard. So much is unceratin in our lives and even the vaccine that is likely to save so many is fraught with worry that it can cause danger side effects.

Which is why I’m so excited for Chanukah this year, perhaps more so than other years. Even if we can’t necessarily celebrate in a large group, the idea of lighting the menorah with just my husband and me is wonderful.

This year for Chanukah, I will try to stretch the small blessings into large blessings. This Chanukah I will celebrate small miracles. The miracle of health for my son who had an illness the past several months, and recovered thankfully.

This Chanukah, I acknowledge the health of those in my community and beyond who have recovered from COVID. I will acknowledge the ability to buy some special Chanukah gifts for my grandchildren and to share in their joy of the holiday, if not in person, but through pictures and videos and FaceTime and Zoom.

This Chanukah, I am grateful for my family and friends who I’ve continued to maintain contact with through phone calls, social media, email and Zoom. I’m grateful for the chance to spin the dreidel and other customs when  we fry and eat latkes and give Hanukkah gelt.

And gratitude brings hope for the future. We know G-d is capable of all miracles, as He has done for us in the Chanukah miracle. Anything is possible. I choose to see the light, the hope and the possibility. I choose to do away with cynicism and look towards a brighter future for all of us. A future where there’s a vaccine, one that many people take. A future with herd immunity, and a future with less arguing and debating about politics and COVID, and more unity.

I look forward to so many things that may seem impossible now, because Chanukah is coming on the heels of so much trouble, that it can only be a harbinger for good things. And in spite of my fear and anxiety, I will push forward with hope and faith. I will light up my mind with possibilities, and I will pray with the knowledge that the salvation of G-d is like the blink of an eye. Anything can change  for the better.

With each day that I face, I will look for the oil and fire that is within every act that we do. Every good deed we do has the potential to spread to more people and light up the world. And that’s something we can continue to do every day, on Chanukah and beyond. Happy Chanukah – starting Friday, December 11!