Hanukkah Night 2, 5776 – Reflections

Text by Rabbi Katy Z. Allen

Photos by Gabi Mezger

The moon appears in the sky

while sunlight still shimmers,

the sky can still be called blue,

and clouds are visible.

In the waning daylight,

the reflection

of the reflected light

we call moonlight

sears a bright path

across the sea.

As darkness rolls in

the moon seems to brighten.

And when the darkness of the sky is complete –

though not fully complete –

the reflected light still shining forth in the sky

and the reflection of that reflection,

a glittery path in the sea,

make perception of surrounding rocks and ridges

possible.

The candles we kindle radiate visible light,

that emitted through the blessings we recite

invisible.

How are these two lights reflected?

Can one see their reflections

shining forth from our faces?

From our hearts?

And is there a reflection of those reflections

that makes perception possible,

enabling those nearby

to readily perceive

not rocks and ridges

but love,

compassion,

wisdom

and peace?

Rabbi Katy Allen is a board certified chaplain and serves as a Nature Chaplain and the Facilitator of One Earth Collaborative, a program of Open Spirit. She is the founder and rabbi of Ma’yan Tikvah – A Wellspring of Hope, which holds services outdoors all year long. She is the co-founder and President pro-tem of the Boston-based Jewish Climate Action Network. She received her ordination from the Academy for Jewish Religion in 2005.

Gabi Mezger photographs wherever she goes.

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