Light of Sorrow and Hope

This week, we celebrate Hanukkah, which is also known as "The Festival of Lights." It commemorates the Maccabees' victory over the Syrian-Greek empire and the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. According to tradition, a small jar of oil—enough for one day—miraculously burned for eight days, symbolizing hope, faith, and resilience. Lighting the menorah each night honors this miracle and reminds us that even a little light can make a powerful difference.

Hanukkah celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and freedom over oppression.

Along with Jews around the world, I am lighting candles this week in honor of the tradition. But this year, it's with a heavy heart that we mourn the loss of at least 15 Jews gunned down by a father and son in Australia while friends and families celebrated the first night of Hanukkah on a beautiful beach. Those killed were as young as ten and as old as 87. At least 42 others were injured. Of the dead, two were a husband and wife who each survived the Holocaust. The Australian Prime Minister is calling this an act of antisemitic terrorism.

This horrific tragedy happened in a place on the other side of the world, and yet it feels like I've been stabbed in my heart in my own living room. It's 2025. Has nothing changed in more than two thousand years since the Jews' triumphant victory over the Syrian-Greek empire?

Antisemitism is rampant throughout the world, but it's nothing new. I happen to be lucky, because I personally never experienced antisemitism. I've never been ostracized or rejected from a job for being Jewish. I might feel a little "snubbed" during the holidays, because not one store in my neighborhood has even one shelf dedicated to Hanukkah.

I was raised in the melting pot of New York, where I had friends of many different ethnicities. We all cherished each other's traditions. I am proud to be Jewish because of its rich history of people who thrived despite others trying desperately to annihilate us - the Spanish Inquisition, the Holocaust, the 2018 mass murder at Parkland Temple in Florida, and now the murder in Australia, to name a few.

For me, the significance of this Hanukkah is about both sorrow and hope. Our people have overcome the worst mass murder in history during the Holocaust, and we will continue to rise above it all. We will continue to educate, invent, lead, create, and rise and thrive.

As I light my candles, I will not only be shining light for our people, but also for the oppressed all over the world, especially those in this country who are being singled out, demonized, and expelled to countries they no longer call home.

The light is also a symbol of the light we carry inside each of us. The light of love that is our true selves. This light might dim on occasion, but just like the oil of the first Hanukkah menorah, our light of love never dies.

The Beatles said it right: "All you need is love." Love for ourselves, and love for others. I hope that we can all have the courage to release the fear, open our hearts, and shine our loving light on everyone, even those we don't understand or with whom we disagree.

Let's make history together - This time, let's shine our loving light and once again be a symbol of hope, faith, and resilience.

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Author, Phyllis Smith

Phyllis Smith is the Founder/CEO of Rejuvecise. She is a Yoga Instructor and Well-being Coach in the Dallas, Texas area. Her mission is to help people create a life of tranquility and well-being in their daily lives. Contact Phyllis at Phyllis@Rejuvecise.com for a FREE 30-minute discovery call today. (Services offered both in-person and online)