{"id":19474,"date":"2019-12-10T12:15:04","date_gmt":"2019-12-10T20:15:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/independentlens\/?post_type=blog&p=19474"},"modified":"2023-08-29T16:20:48","modified_gmt":"2023-08-29T23:20:48","slug":"9-lights-for-hanukkah-finding-light-in-dark-times","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/independentlens\/blog\/9-lights-for-hanukkah-finding-light-in-dark-times\/","title":{"rendered":"9 Lights for Hanukkah: Finding Light in Dark Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

This Hanukkah, as millions light their menorahs and rededicate themselves to their family, their faith and their communities, we look for ways to find and share joy, light, healing, and blessings.<\/span><\/p>\n

We reached out to filmmakers, authors, and film critics to learn where they\u2019re finding inspiration this year.\u00a0 Some said family, others offered a meaningful movie, book or song. And many shared that acknowledging and facing darkness — past and present, personal and political — is a crucial part of finding that light. As the Jewish proverb says, “<\/span>A little bit of light pushes away a lot of darkness.\u201d [Nine seemed a fitting number for us, reflecting that there are eight Hanukkah candles<\/span> plus<\/span><\/i> a “helper” candle known as a<\/span> shamash<\/span><\/i>, to give us nine lights on a menorah.]<\/span><\/p>\n

Chag Sameach!<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Healing and Transformation<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cOne thing that’s shining a lot of light right now for me is What Does Justice Look Like? The Struggle for Liberation in Dakota Homeland<\/em><\/a><\/strong>\u00a0by Waziyatawin, about the work of healing and transformation needed in the United States with regards to centuries of harms towards Native Americans. It is a crucially important, if not easy, book to read.<\/span><\/p>\n

“For me, bringing light is not about being made to feel comfortable, but rather about illuminating long-buried truths–even if they are difficult to face–and seeing possibilities for a more whole future together. As the late 19th-early 20th c. thinker Rav Kook, wrote: <\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Everyone must know that within them burns a candle…. One is obligated to work hard to reveal the light of one\u2019s candle in the public realm for the benefit of the many. One needs to ignite one\u2019s candle and make of it a great torch to enlighten the whole world.\u2019\u201d <\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

— <\/span>Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg<\/b>, author of <\/span>Surprised by God: How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love Religion<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

2. The Power of Music<\/b><\/p>\n

“As a counterpoint to the darkness sweeping out of Washington and to the polarizing political stories <\/span> dominating the cultural landscape, this holiday season, I am finding much joy and light in music. One recent example: My wife, Karen, and I arrived at the gym for a workout. It was her birthday, so she got to choose the music. She asked me to put on <\/span>Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass<\/b>. In no time, instead of talking news and politics, our fellow gym rats from their mid-’20s to their ’70s started dancing (sometimes with each other), singing and humming along with a twinkle in their eyes, a smile on their face and a spring in their step. Herb\u2019s fun, upbeat sound simply made people feel good.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Whether working out, or cranking up the car stereo on the way to work, whether listening while writing at the computer or playing softly in the background during dinner after a long day, music has the power to bring joy and light, to inspire, to heal and to transform.\u201d\u2014\u00a0<\/span>John Scheinfeld<\/b>, writer\/director of <\/span>Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary<\/span><\/i><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

3. Podcasts Offering Redemption<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s bringing me the most joy, peace or sense of hope for the future right now?\u00a0 The first thing that popped into my head with regard to seasonal light-bringers was podcasts, perhaps because I can enjoy them continually or serially, and on the move. <\/span>Family Secrets<\/i>, Heavyweight<\/i><\/strong> and <\/span>Terrible, Thanks for Asking<\/i><\/strong> came to mind immediately — counterintuitive, perhaps, because these shows typically deal with tragedy, deception, and tragic deception.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

“But not only are their hosts (Dani Shapiro, Jonathan Goldstein and Nora McInerny) smart, irrepressible and quite often hilarious, built into the relentless focus on misery is the implicit expectation that the journey is worth taking because it offers redemption. For me, the current climate demands a redemptive perspective. I guess I prefer my ‘triumphs of the human spirit\u2019 with a side of dark humor.”\u00a0\u2014 <\/span>Kim Green<\/b>, author of upcoming <\/span>Rivals<\/span><\/i> (Crown Books for YoungReaders), first installment of the YA sci-fi trilogy The Last Extinction<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n