Countdown To Chanukah 3 – More To Give

Great art ‘offers us images by which to imagine our lives, and once the imagination has been awakened it is procreative: through it we can give more than we were given, say more than we had to say (Lewis Hyde, The Gift).’

Something awakens our imagination, triggering creativity, so we can give more than we were originally given. This, for me, is the essence of Torah, the definition of Torah sh’ba’al peh, the Oral Law. 

This, for me, is the ever increasing candles of the Chanukah Menorah.

This, for me, is the way I want to give Chanukah gifts this year.

I want to say to a granddaughter, “Your patience and generosity have been a gift for me over the past year. They’ve inspired me to strive to become a better person. I want my gift to be something that will inspire you in return.”

Someone recently asked me why I was doing so many learnings, writing so many pieces, and posting so many videos on Living With Corona, Shabbat, Chanukah and Partners In Prayer. My response was that all my output has been inspired by the people with whom I learn, how they push themselves to grow, the respect with which they treat each other, their questions, their insights, all of which, have sparked my imagination, my soul.

My output is my Chanukah Gift acknowledging how much more I have to give, even more that I have been given.

Thank You