Tonight our chanukiyot are lit to their full capacity.  And in addition, once again, the light of the Shabbat candles joins them.  With this final night of Chanukah I am stuck by the sense of hope that I feel when I look at all of these beautiful, flickering flames.  Whether or not there ever was a miracle of oil lasting for eight days or not doesn’t so much matter tonight.  The light of those flames are a reminder to us just as they have been to our people for generations, of perseverance and potential that can only come with a sense of hope.

May the light of the chanukiya on this night continue to inspire us to do the work that the world needs most.  As the prophet Zechariah said, “not by might, not by power but by spirit” shall we all have the capacity to make peace.  Chag urim sameach and Shabbat Shalom!