The Kabbalists talk a great deal about the “light.” Through our actions we draw this Divine light into the world, thereby, increasing the light—or we push the light away, cover it up, and diminish its presence. In the Zohar, the mystical text of Kabbalah, there is a teaching that says that everything is new when seen in the light beyond the sun. The light we bring in by lighting Chanukah candles consists of this light beyond the sun. It’s the light beyond this world, a light of pure potentiality, a light of miracles. When seen in that special light, the world looks like a miracle…many things look miraculous.
According to halachah, or Jewish law, however, when we light the chanukiah, the Chanukah menorah, we are prohibited from using its light for any purpose. That means we can’t light the candles and then read by their light or do some other task by their light. We can’t hold up the chanukiah and look at the wold around us. Instead, we are told to simply look at the light.
Typically, when we light a candle, we look at what the light allows us to see— what we see in the light. On Chanukah, however, we focus on the light itself—on seeing the light…the light that is pure potential, the light that symbolizes the spiritual realm, the light that is God. We want our eyes to become filled with this light, so that when we turn away from the candles we see the world as if illuminated by this light. Our eyes illuminate it, and we see the world anew.
Just as Chanukah offers us a reminder that miracles are possible, and the Kabbalists tell us that during Chanukah we can access the energy of miracles, the light of the Chanukah candles reminds us to see everything as miraculous. Typically, we go through life seeing everything as normal and ordinary. We don’t see miracles.
Occasionally, I attend a gathering called “Miracles and Intentions.” During this gathering, we are asked to give voice to the miracles we’ve experienced over the last month. People talk about all sorts of things…large and small. A check that arrived in the mail unexpectedly. A cat coming home after being lost. A reconciliation. Waking up feeling well. A call about a potential job. The car needing only $100 worth of repair work. A new client. I love this gathering, because it reminds me to be aware of miracles, to look for them every day in all sorts of places, to acknowledge the miracles in my own life. I remember that miracles exist in the eyes of the beholder.
We are told that God stopped performing miracles here on Earth. I don’t believe it’s true. As Albert Einstein said, “There are two ways of looking at the world—either you see nothing as a miracle or you see everything as a miracle.” If you believe in and look for miracles, you’ll see them. (God’s hand is still at work.) At least try to spend some time looking at the Chanukah candles burning brightly and fill your eyes with the light of potential so you can be reminded to look for miracles. Afterwards, I’m sure if you try, you’ll spot an occasional miracle here and there.
