Chanukah Marijuanica Chronica with Mitzva Wellness
by Shifra Klein
Chanukah is the Jewish eight-day, “festival of lights,” celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers and fried foods (hence the oil).
The Hebrew word Hanukkah means “dedication,” rightfully named because it celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple. In the second century BCE, the Holy Land was ruled by the Seleucids (Syrian-Greeks), who tried to force the people of Israel to accept Greek culture and beliefs instead of MITZVA observance and belief in G-d. Against all odds, a small band of faithful but poorly armed Jews, led by Judah the Maccabee, defeated one of the mightiest armies on earth, drove the Greeks from the land, reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and rededicated it to the service of G-d. When they went to light the Temple’s Menorah, they found only a single jar of olive oil that had escaped contamination by the Greeks. Miraculously, they lit the menorah and the one-day supply of oil lasted for eight days, until new oil could be prepared under conditions of ritual purity.
To honor and publicize these miracles, the sages instituted the festival of Chanukah. The core ritual of Chanukah is the nightly menorah lighting. The menorah holds nine flames, one of which is the shamash (“helper candle”), which is used to kindle the other eight lights. On the first night, we light just one flame. On the second night, an additional flame is lit. By the eighth night of Chanukah, all eight lights are kindled. Prayers are recited before the lighting of the candles and traditional songs are sung. It’s appropriate to spend time with your loved ones, watching the flames.
Remarking that one should spend time near the Chanukah lights after they are lit, the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson would say, “We must listen carefully to what the candles are saying.” What are the flickering flames telling us? Here are some messages:
- Never be afraid to stand up for what’s right. Period.
- Keep the faith. Judah Maccabee and his band faced discouraging odds, but that didn’t stop them. With faith in their hearts, they entered the battle of their lives—and won. In these trying times, we can do the same.
- Always increase in matters of goodness. Sure, a single flame was good enough for yesterday, but today needs to be even better.
- A little light goes a long way. The Chanukah candles are lit at dusk. Ignited in the window or in the doorway, they serve as a guiding light for the darkening streets. No matter how dark it is outside, a candle of G-dly goodness can transform the darkness itself into light.
- Be kind to yourself. It doesn’t matter how ‘small’ you may think you are, even something you may think is insignificant can change someone’s whole world or even save a life. You are worthy and you are worthy of helping others.
- Take it to the streets. Chanukah is unique in that its primary MITZVA is observed in public. It’s not enough to have goodness in the heart, or even at home. Chanukah teaches us to shine outwards into our surroundings with the glow of MITZVAHS.
- Be an example. You want change, be the change. You have not ignited another soul until that soul has ignited others.
- Don’t be ashamed to perform MITZVAHS, even if you will feel different. Rather, be like a menorah, proudly proclaiming its radiant uniqueness for all to see.
Mitzva Wellness, LLC. relates in many ways to the miracle of Chanukah. We strive to be a beacon, a light, in the industry and we don’t compromise to ‘fit in’. We operate in an ethical manner, using high quality materials, 3rd Party Lab-Testing and formulate to create effective and affordable products. We are small, but we are mighty! We believe in sharing our knowledge, our hope and our support to those in need. All we ask is to pass the MITZVA (“good deed”) on, and be a light in your own community, with acts of goodness and kindness.
Happy Chanukah!
