Weekly Inspiration from Chana

Chanukah is on my mind. How about you?

I have been thinking: Just imagine if the Macabees had decided not to light the one pure cruise of oil. After all, what was the point of lighting the Menorah for just one day? They would still have to wait 7 days until new oil could be attained.

But light they did. Because a Jew lights with what he/she has right now. And the miracles follow.

G-d says “Create an opening for me the size of a pinhole and Ill meet you there and open it up to a vast palace. You initiate, and I’ll follow with the miracle”.

I think of the times I have heard sincere remarks like:

“Me? Have a kosher kitchen? I’m not there yet. Food is a big part of our lives. I didn’t grow up this way. Too big a lifestyle change for us right now.”

Or..

“Me? Reach out to offer a meal to a struggling neighbor when she repeatedly insults and criticizes me?”

Or..

Me? Lead a shabbat dinner at my home? You got the wrong person.

Or.. my personal example:

Upon moving to Cary as a young Rebbitzin: “Me? Teach and run adult classes and programs? Give me a child of any age to teach, but I’m too shy and nervous with the adults”

And I call these remarks sincere because they are. We genuinely don’t feel we have the reservoir of skill, energy, background, or character for the task at hand.

While we may not feel that we have what the task at hand demands, very often what we DO have, is one pure cruise of the oil we need.

Enough to take a baby step in kosher..even if it’s just trying it for a week.

Enough to leave a small box of chocolates at the door of the struggling neighbor.

Enough to invite just a friend or two to a Shabbat Dinner.

And as for me..I shared a Torah thought for just a few minutes to a room full of adults (that was the most I could handle at the time) and the miracles have followed thank G-d. I now LOVE and look forward to teaching and interacting with all my adult friends and soul sisters at Chabad of Cary.

Let’s light with what we have. There are miracles awaiting!