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Martin Luther King, Jr.
The horrible events of this past week occurred during
Chanukah and during advent, leading up to Christmas. Chanukah is the festival
of lights and miracles. It is the holiday of rededication after war. Every menorah lit during this time is a sign that says “I will let my
light shine. You did not win.” It is a light of identity.
Christmas is the day we Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus, when the light of Christ came into the world. We adorn our homes inside and out with lights, be they white, multicolored, flashing or still. It is a time of love and peace and miracles.
And, what could be more miraculous than a child? Children are the bright hope of the world. Someone tried to snuff out that light. Someone’s personal darkness was so all-encompassing that he was unable to feel the warmth, to see the light that shone from menorah candles in windows, from strings of bulbs lining roofs, from the eyes of children and those who fought to save them. While my first reaction was one of visceral anger at the attacker, I now choose to light a candle and remember those lost, remember love, remember only good can ever make real, lasting change.
And, most of all say, “I will let my light shine. You did not win.”
Peace, love, and prayers to all those who lost a loved one
or were in any way affected by the tragic attack.
