Candles, Chanukah, and Conscience: Finding God's Presence in Darkness

Candles are a beautiful reminder of God's unwavering presence. They hold a special place in our hearts, illuminating every special event with their flickering, often fragrant, glow. One single candle in the middle of an evening dinner table adds warmth and comfort and can make even the simplest morsel taste delectable.

Candlelight holds a special significance in Jewish tradition, with its warm glow filling every holiday, from Shabbat and Yom Kippur to Rosh Hashanah, Passover, Sukkot, Shavuot as well as weddings, births, and times of great sorrow. The glow envelops those around in a sense of sacredness, igniting a reminder that we are on the cusp of an utterly reverent moment.

In most synagogues, the eternal flame, known as Ner Tamid, is lit above the ark containing the Torah scrolls, symbolizing the original flame of the Tabernacle (Leviticus 24:4). The priests attended the flame evening and morning. The candlestick, oil, and wick received the utmost care. However, modern synagogues generally use electric lamps (for safety reasons).

"He shall order the lamps upon the pure candlestick before the LORD continually." Leviticus 24:4 KJV

The eight-candled Chanukiah is the central theme of Chanukah. The servant candle (shamash), the taller one in the middle, is lit. It is the source for igniting the first candle that is placed to the far right. On the second night, the shamash will light the first and second candles, and so forth. On the eighth evening, the fully lit Chanukiah shines at its highest potential and commemorates the miraculous eight nights when the oil in the Temple lasted beyond possibility.

As I reflect on a Christian candlelight ceremony I attended, the image of one candle lighting the way for countless others without diminishing its flame reminds me of the power of influence and unity. Inspiringly, each light invades an additional space of darkness, much like the Bible does to our souls. “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).

In scripture, a candle also represents our conscience: “For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness” (Psalm 18:28 KJV). “If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light” Luke 11:36 KJV.

The Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise, 1791 by Benjamin West

Adam and Eve’s conscience sprang into action when they disobeyed. It told them they could no longer stand in the presence of God without covering. Fortunately for them, God covered their nakedness—physically and spiritually. He placed a flaming sword at the garden entrance to keep them from a greater sin (Genesis 3:24).

We need God’s light in our nations and within us individually, but some choose not to believe. Their soul is dark. “The candle of the wicked shall be put out” (Proverbs 24:20).

The recent terrorists who committed unimaginable brutal rapes and murders did so in the name of their god. They went beyond smoldering candles and seared consciences to reprobates. In psychological terms, they could be classified as sadistic psychopaths. They cannot see the true and living God but are in total darkness.

The Bible warned that the world would become more hate-filled and violent in the later days.

Many things have damaged the consciences of humanity, but it all began with choosing darkness over light. We are all without excuse (Romans 1:20).

In our darkest moments, God desires to relight the flame. Nathan's “Thou art the man” was the awakening arrow to David’s heart (2 Samuel 12:7). His desperate cry to God was, “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don't take your Holy Spirit from me” (Psalm 51). Only God can make a stone-cold heart find its way out of darkness with the light fueled by the Holy Spirit.

Candles are never to be hidden but illuminate the way for others to follow. Simeon held Jesus in his arms and recognized the light the Father sent. No darkness can overcome Him.

“Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, ... for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel” (Luke 2:28-32).

Simeon the Godreceiver by Alexei Yegorov, 1830s–40s, Wikipedia

As we celebrate the joyous festival of Chanukah, let us remember the true essence of this special time. May the Light of the World illuminate not just our homes but also our communities. As the candles on the menorah continue to glow, may they serve as a reminder of the miracles that can happen when we come together in unity and faith. Remember: each candle we light replaces the darkness with His light. Happy Chanukah to you and your loved ones.

His Light in Darkness

It has been more than four weeks since the brutal attack of Hamas terrorists on Israeli civilians in Gaza’s bordering communities, violently disrupting a peaceful Shabbat morning. I won’t recall all the numbers of horrific, brutal acts on that day and the days that followed.

As I try to write these few lines, I’m praying nonstop and asking the Lord to help me express, to put down in some form of words that are so deep in my heart, on many hearts today. Hearts that are profoundly sorrowful and pierced with pain, bleeding deeply for this land, His people, the condition of this world, and His own heart—the Heart of God for lost humanity and His firstborn Israel.

What does God’s heart feel now? Can we even go there? I can’t. I only find comfort in knowing that He dwells with the brokenhearted. And we find ourselves in His broken heart.

The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. ~ Psalm 34:18 ~

Pray that this nation finds comfort in their God today as hearts and lives are broken. May they be able to humble themselves and call upon His name for forgiveness and deliverance. He is their God. May they truly be His people.

It is not ok to murder, rape, behead, burn alive, or to bake babies in the oven. This is pure evil that every human must condemn. We must take sides. We must rise against the evil in prayer, speech, and heart.

Israel is at war, war with evil, and we all are affected. We are at war. We all have responsibilities and tasks. Some of us here are taking a physical stand and involved in practical assignments. Most of you in the nations are also assigned to intercede, support, and encourage.

We all run the race. We all get tired. We are numb and weary. But we keep our eyes on the Lord. We live outwardly, not inwardly, for we cannot afford inward living. “His strength is made perfect in our weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

We all experience soaring on His wings. We see His face and hold His hand. We rely on grace alone. We choose to trust His loving heart and believe His promises, enabling us to carry on and grow from strength to strength.

It allows us to comfort those who are impossible to comfort, to feed the displaced and hungry, to clothe those who are on the frontlines, to travel south and north, to be His feet, His hands, His smiles, and to show His heart to His very people. We feel privileged. So should you as you take your part in this war, His war.

The needs around are huge - physical, emotional, spiritual. All we can say is ‘HINENI,’ Lord, ‘Here am I.’ Make us all completely Yours.

We do not forget Holocaust Survivors. We continue to visit, call, pray, and comfort. The images they see on TV screens are too much for them to bear. It reminds them of their family members being killed, their siblings brutally murdered, and their grandparents shot during the Holocaust, so the pain now is much deeper. Tears are pouring nonstop. They need us now more than ever. Our presence deeply touches them. We are broken and humbly cry to the One who sees them to send His Comfort and Light. We want to be faithful.

The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Please join in the cry of our hearts for His people. The light shines most brightly when the darkness rapidly covers the earth.

At times, I feel like I’m asleep and dreaming a bad dream. But it is not a dream. It is thick darkness creeping in. Lord, please, wake us up in the hour of great struggle so we can watch with You. We failed more than once. Help us not to leave You alone ever again and be faithful. All these things will be for the Glory of Your Holy Name. Amen

Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy. Let me dwell in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah ~ Psalm 61:1 - 4 ~

Broken but Together

Shir-Ann and her friend stood near me as we sheltered in the kitchen of an Aroma café in Jerusalem, on 16th October, 2023, as booms sounded nearby. “At rotz'ah chibuk?” she asked her friend, to which the other woman shook her head with a smile. “Would you like a hug?” was the question. When the friend declined, I piped up: “Ani ken rotz'ah!” (“Well I’d like one!)

So, we had a group hug, as complete strangers, right there in the melee of the small crowd trying to shelter from a Palestinian rocket attack on the religious capital of the world. And not for the first time.

Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad rockets fired at Israeli population centres is not a new phenomenon. But what happened on 7th October, 2023, was unique in its barbarity. Not since the Holocaust have so many Jewish lives been claimed in one day.

Sadly, it wasn’t a new type of attack for the Christians, Yazidis and Muslims who have suffered so terribly at the hands of ISIS. As soon as some of the horrific details of the 7th October attacks began emerging, they had the marks of the infamous death cult all over them. Unsurprisingly, the ominous black flag was found in the aftermath of the massacre.

“People should stay silent if they can’t find the words,” said Howard Jacobson, speaking at JW3 in London recently. He differentiated between so-called artists, and true artists. As a writer, I am one who has remained silent up to now. There are just no words to express what happened.

All I know, and felt from my safe Jerusalem home, is that the entire nation was in a state of complete shock in the days following her 9/11. Everybody knows somebody involved, since Israel is so small. The sheer brutality continues to be the biggest shock. Jerusalem streets, during the week of 8th October, were eerily quiet. Even in the capital, relatively far from the southern kibbutzim, people were not sure if it was safe to go outside. We Jerusalemites had all woken up to the sound of rocket sirens on the 7th, the first sign that something was very, very wrong. Even at 9.00 a.m. that morning, the faces around me in the bomb shelter were grave with worry, as phone alerts began showing terrorist infiltrations.

Many of us have lived through different intifadas in Israel, and, terrifying though they were, be they marked by knives or suicide bombings, nothing could prepare a nation for this. No one could have predicted the Nazi-type atrocities which just took place, within the boundaries of a flourishing, democratic, happy nation, on the day which - by definition - is her happiest. It was Simchat Torah, the day of Rejoicing over the Law of God, the biblical Eighth Day of the Feast of Tabernacles.

Having the privilege of being in Jerusalem on this, one of her saddest days, I think the contrast is one of the hardest things to process. We had celebrated three massive events in the Jewish calendar:

Rosh ha Shana, the Feast of Trumpets; Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement; and then the building of the sukkot (temporary dwellings) in preparation for the Feast of the LORD: Tabernacles.

October 7th was the Shabbat morning of the culmination of all of this, and many were rising early to begin the celebrations. Others were sleeping in to recover from all the nights partially outdoors!

Celebrating Sukkot at the Kotel, 4 October 2023

All in all, it had been the happiest time. Friday, 6th October, was a beautiful sunny day, Israelis outdoors relaxing. On 24th-25th September, we had poured out our repentance on Yom Kippur. We had surrendered to our King, ten days before. And then we had danced. The colourful Jerusalem March happened on 4th October, hundreds of Christians from many nations blessing the City, the Land, the people. On 2nd and 4th October, we had received our Aaronic Blessing, as thousands of us gathered at the Western Wall. Just three days before the massacre, we had prayed in unity as a nation. But - we hadn’t known true unity. That only arrived on Saturday, 7th October.

And then - all disunity melted away.

While police were advising against all but essential travel, as terrorists were still at large, Israelis queued for hours to give blood. Others began collecting essential items for the thousands of reservists who were immediately called up, lining the streets with flags to cheer them on. Others travelled to the airport to greet the hundreds of Israelis who began flying home. Massive banners, showing the blue and white national emblem, began appearing all over the country.

Jaffa Gate, 17th October 2023

Almost in an instant, the nation was as one. One heart, one soul, one group hug of sobbing Jews – and the ‘aliens’ in her midst. The sense of solidarity and unity was palpable. Suddenly, in brokenness, the Family of Israel’s fight against utter evil became an unbreakable chain. This was the one good thing that arose from the deepest, darkest evil I have ever known.

Except… I don’t know. I didn’t see it. I wasn’t there. But there are little children who were there, who did see, despite the attempts by rescuers to cover their eyes. And those who did not lose their young lives will need the most prayers, the most help, the most comfort the world can give. Even then - it won’t be enough. There are children who are the only ones left in their family unit, including 12 year-old Ariel, who buried his father, his mother, his two older sisters and his maternal grandfather. His paternal grandfather, himself a Holocaust survivor, reportedly told his bereaved grandson:

"I lost my parents when I was 14. You lost your parents when you were 12. I survived, and you will too!"

Abigail, age 3, one of over 240 hostages in Gaza

One little girl, Abigail, age 3, is listed as one of the hostages. Her parents, Roi and Smadar Idan, are no longer alive. Her big brother Michael, aged all of nine, heroically managed to hide himself and his 6 year-old sister Amalia, for 14 long hours, after their parents were murdered. Please pray for Abigail’s safe return, and that of all the other 37 children, the young people, mothers, fathers and grandparents, 241 in total at the latest count.

May the Lord who weeps for them, and who longs to gather them, truly take them under His wings. May every soldier confronting this evil be armed, under-girded and shielded, by the love of Judah’s Lion.