Shine Bright Like A… Jellyfish?
Aviva Eizicovics and Chani Shull (Grade 10)
מַ֭לְּפֵנוּ מִבַּהֲמ֣וֹת אָ֑רֶץ וּמֵע֖וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם יְחַכְּמֵֽנוּ
Who gives us more knowledge than the beasts of the earth?
Who makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?
The above pasuk from Sefer Iyov reminds us there is much to learn from all of Hashem’s creatures. During our optics unit in science, we learned about a concept called bioluminescence. This is the ability of an organism to produce light, and is found in species such as algae, insects, and jellyfish. What is interesting about bioluminescence is that it is not a permanent condition—rather, these creatures only shine under certain circumstances, such as when they are attracting a mate or fending off predators.
This got us thinking about the message of Chanukah. Perhaps more than any other holiday, Chanukah is an example of the Jews encountering significant adversity, both physical and spiritual, and finding the resources to overcome it. The mighty Greeks forbade the practice of religion, and their army dwarfed that of the Maccabees, but our ancestors did not back down. They showed this courage not despite the odds stacked against them, but rather because of it. Difficult situations can bring out the best in us, and make us realize that we had capabilities that we thought were beyond us. Just as a jellyfish only glows when under stress (or when finding a mate, so basically the same thing), so too we shine brightest when times are toughest.
When we watch the glow of the candles, let us think about the light within each of us, and how we can share it when the world needs it most.
Chanukah Sameach!
Dedication and Education
Ms. Miriam Bessin, Director of Student Life
Chanukah/חנוכה, which means dedication, comes from the same root as the word Chinuch/חינוך, education. Is there something that these two have in common? What connection does education have to the holiday of Chanukah?
The Gemara in Shabbat 21b quoting Beit Hillel says that the mehadrin min hamehadrin is to light one candle the first night and light additional candles each night. And that’s what we do today, we are mosif v’holeich/מוסיף והולך. Rabbi Efrem Goldberg says in Chinuch, like in Chanukah, you can’t light one candle and think you are done. There is always more to teach, more to learn, and areas of growth and improvement. Chinuch requires mosif v’holeich.
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis says that the greatest compliment we can give to an authority in Jewish law is to call that person a תלמיד חכם, a wise student. Even the greatest among us are still referred to as students because we can always learn more and grow more. This Chanukah, let’s remember to be mosif v’holeich, never allowing ourselves to feel too complacent in our knowledge and always striving to learn and grow more.
Hashem’s Role in History and in Our Homes
Rabbi Noah Sonenberg
We are constantly looking for the secret that will allow our children to grow up in a way where they will develop a healthy and positive relationship towards Torah and Mitzvot. In Masechet Shabbat 23b, Rav Huna suggests that a way to ensure that our children are talmidei chachamim is to regularly perform the mitzvot of lighting candles, both for Shabbat and Chanukah. Instead of viewing this as a segula where something magical happens to cause this result, I think a careful look at these mitzvot will reveal that there is a natural connection between the actions and the outcome seen in children.
Earlier on the amud, Rashi teaches us that the mitzvah of lighting candles on Shabbat is directly associated with the concern that a person has for the well being of their family. The unpleasantness of sitting in the dark is something that concerns the parent so much that they prioritize this mitzvah over other mitzvot such as kiddush and Chanukah candles if their resources would only allow them to fulfill one of these mitzvot. The Gemara also explains that if a person’s resources would only allow them to fulfill either the mitzvah of Chanukah candles or kiddush then they must prioritize Chanukah candles since publicizing the miracles of Chanukah should take precedence.
If we follow the priorities outlined in the Gemara then our children will grow up knowing that Hashem takes an active role in history and is involved in their lives and they will also know that their parents take an active interest in their needs and prioritize their wellbeing. These children will develop a connection with Hashem that is strengthened by their connection with their parents. The simple secret to raising our children is to explicitly and openly discuss our values and belief in Hashem and to do so in a home environment where their needs and concerns are taken into account.
