In Judaism, God is One. That is, God is not two or three, as in other faiths. In ancient times, among Zoroastrians, there was a god of good (light) and a god of evil (darkness). Uniquely, Judaism believed in One God, a God of both darkness and light. They were not in competition with each other, and they were not inherently about good and evil, though Judaism has much to teach about sin and repentance. On light and darkness, we read in our prayerbooks in the evening, “…Hama’ariv aravim,” God brings on the evening. And in the morning, we read, “… Yotzer Or,” God creates light. God is one Creator of both light and darkness. What was a duality in competition in Zoroastrianism, became unified in Judaism.

Judaism’s model of monotheism is important in this darkest season of the year. The potential for seasonal depression is keenest in December. By 5:00pm, the dark evening has taken hold and cold temperatures quickly follow. Sad and despairing feelings can set in, and latent feelings of loneliness and faithlessness can emerge. Thankfully, such darkness doesn’t have to be a source of personal or communal loss at all. Remember that in Judaism, God brings on the evening and its darkness. That is, God is in the darkness. And if God is in the darkness, then darkness doesn’t have to be a source of despair, nor a reason to lose hope.

The Babylonian Talmud (Chagigah 12b) teaches us that “The world was created from darkness.” Jewish mystical sources add, “Just as the seed sprouts in the dark of the earth, so too does the human soul grow in the darkness of concealment” (Zohar 1:47b). In the darkness, we can grow, too. We do it by embracing the darkness, not because we love it, but because it can be fertile ground that gives life to new growth in us, too. It’s just as we’ve also learned that it’s always darkest just before the first light. On the threshold between dark and light is potential born of imagination and creativity. What follows is light. God said, “Let there be light and there was light” (Genesis 1).

God creates light. God is in the light. So, we find in every increasing sliver of light ever-increasing hopefulness and faithfulness. It’s not always easy to do, but it’s inherently Jewish to believe in what is possible. The words “hope” and “optimism” have been debated in recent times to determine which word better expresses a Jewish outlook. It’s an unnecessary debate, unless you like debates, because both words encourage new ideas, new possibilities, and better days ahead. Choose hope, optimism, or any word that represents your expectation for what comes next for you.

Judaism demands only that we take responsibility for what comes next. We choose our way forward in covenant with God, not dependent on God. It’s empowering to know that in darkness and in light, we find God’s gifts to us and in us. We can grow where we’re planted, as they say, and thrive in settings we never knew were habitable for us.

As the darkness of the season sets in, Chanukah comes at the perfect time. The Chanukah menorah not only illuminates the night, but it also teaches us that increasing light is akin to increasing holiness. Each added candle leads to an apex of light and hope. God accompanies us in the darkest moments and the brightest hours. May this season be filled with God’s holiness to lighten and brighten the way for all of us.

L’Shalom,