Focus on the light. That's Rabbi Amichai Lowlavi's message for Hanukkah this year.

Think of how ancient this fire is that you Mikhail Al-Aves message for Hanukkah this year.

Think of how ancient this fire is that you just lit.

It's brand new, but it's older than all of us.

So focus into the flames and let us send love and light into the world.

Earlier this week as he led a virtual celebration on the fifth night of Hanukkah,

the ancient and the brand new were side by side.

The Manora's people had brought were family heirlooms or gifts from dear friends or purchased this month from Target.

The glow of candles lit up zoom squares, a grid of pixelated hypnotizing flames,

and a tradition with roots dating back millennia also spoke directly to this moment.

Knowing that we are on a festive night while business is not as usual, while a war goes on in

the world.

Lullivi's congregation is in New York, but he grew up in Israel.

And the last time I met him, we were both there.

It was just a couple weeks after the Hamas attacks of October 7th, he was supporting people who were still

in shock. We met that Friday afternoon, hours before the beginning of Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath,

and he described the traditions of Judaism as a toolkit.

Shabbat is a helpful tool in our toolkit of how to unwind and sing a song and light a candle and drink a glass of wine in this case,

maybe five.

And Shabbatat means stop. Shabbat means pause. It is a sanctuary in time.

Hanukkah is another tool. This year, LalaVie is lighting a second to Manora, a sign of solidarity with the hostages still in captivity in Gaza.

And he's also lighting a single candle in memory of all the innocent victims who've died on and since October 7th.

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