In my Rabbi Blog for December 2010, I offer recipients Chanukah insights from the Prophet Zechariah's Vision and the Kabbalah about the Festival of Lights and the Chanukah dedication of our Holy Sparks:
At the Dawn and at the Dusk of the 8 Days of Chanukah stands the Hebrew Letter Chet ( The 8th Letter of the Hebrew Alphabet). Chet speaks to us of a Dream ( Chalom). And so... My Holy Brother Zechariah Dreamed... and then The Angel awakened him Thus: "What do you See?" And My Holy Brother Zechariah answered Thus: "I See a Lamp Stand All Of Gold, with a Bowl above it. The Lamps on it are Seven in Number, and the Lamps above it have Seven Pipes; and by it are Two Olive Trees, one on the Right of the Bowl and one on its Left." Then My Holy Brother inquired of The Angel as to the Understanding of this most Holy Vision. "What do These Things mean, my lord?" And then The Angel revealed: "This is the Word of the Lord: Not By Might, Nor by Power, but by My Spirit...." Thus Saith the Lord of Hosts Then, And so Saith the Lord of Hosts Now. So, My Friends.... Let us Vanquish, the Tyrant of Hatred that spares no Faith, no Color, no Gender. Let us Liberate ourselves from the Delusion of the Sitra Achra that would deny us from Knowing Thus: The Light that rests within each of us, is the Light that rests within our Neighbor as Well, so Let us try to Love our Neighbor as Ourself. Jew or Gentile, Believer, or Non-Believer, Man or Woman, All Colors and Creeds. After the Carving and the Hewing of the Sword, must come Wisdom: This is the Beginning and the End of the Letter Chet: Wisdom (Chochmah). What is the Chet in Wisdom? Chai Olamim.... Life Of All Worlds: Ayn Sof ! My Friends, when we Gaze into the Light, Let us Vision, the Seven Great Halls of Heaven and Stand firmly on this Earth. Let us Remember, that each of Us is One Holy Reflection of the Infinite. Let us Remember, the Sacred Preciousness of All Life. Let us Remove the Veil and See that All are One. On the 1st Night of Chanukah, in Honor of the Blessed 36 Lights that shine for Us All, Let us My Friends .... Understand the Secret of Chanukah: We are the Lights in the Menorah of Ayn Sof ! Let us ReDedicate ourselves, at this Holy Chanukah Celebration of Light, TO SPARKLING THE DIVINE PRESENCE THAT WE ARE, SO THAT LIGHT MAY SHINE UPON LIGHT AND FULFILLMENT BE INFINITELY BRIGHT!
Chag Sameach,
Rabbi Alyjah Navy
Ayn Sof Kabbalah Community
