Do Less. A Hanukkah Lesson: the blessing of just being. 🔥
Hanerot Halalu - הַנֵּרוֹת הַלָּלוּ
Hanerot Halalu - Click to Watch!
Rabbi Josh Warshawsky and the Chaverai Nevarech Band
The Mitzvah of Presence
These candles that we light, we light them for the miracles -
Hanerot halalu anachnu madlikim al hanisim.
When I speak to children about Judaism, I tell them that to me, Judaism is all about awareness. It's about noticing the things that are happening in the world around us and giving our lives meaning and intention. That's what a brachah, a blessing, really is. A marking of a moment in time. When we light candles for Hanukkah and for Shabbat and other holidays, we say a brachah. When we see a rainbow, there's a brachah that we say. When we meet a new person for the first time or even see someone we haven't seen in a long time, there's a brachah that we say. We are marking these moments in time and saying that they are important.
Especially during these times when we need a little bit more light and a little more connection, counting and noticing blessings is incredibly important. On Hanukkah after we say the blessings over the candles, we sing two songs: Ma'oz Tzur and Hanerot Halalu. Many Jews are familiar with Ma'oz Tzur, and I believe that is less true for Hanerot Halalu. And even those who do know it don't necessarily realize the power and wisdom of these particular words.
Hanerot Halalu teaches us about the laws related to lighting the candles. We light these candles, and then what are we allowed to with them? Answer: Nothing. We can't do anything with them. "V'ein lanu reshut lehishtamesh bahem, ela lir'otam bilvad." "We do not have permission to do anything with them, just look at them."
How rare it is to be told just to do nothing! Just bask in the glow of the candles, be together with family, be present. We light these lights, and the next step for us is to find a way to just be. Sit and enjoy and breathe and witness. That's the blessing and commandment connected to these lights of Hanukkah. I wrote this melody to bring this blessing to light. As we sing it and light these Hanukkah lights, I hope you find a moment to sit and enjoy, to hug a loved one, to feel the warmth of presence next to you, and to be a light, a warmth, and a presence to others too.
Chag Urim Sameach, Happy Festival of Lights!
-Josh
These Lights are Holy
Listen to Hanerot Halalu
Wherever you find your music by clicking here!
For another beautiful melody for Hanerot Halalu, check out this video by my dear friend and Chaverai Nevarech bandmate Jackson Vance Mercer