Expanded Perspective: As the Light Grows

The Jewish calendar points us to the powerful symbol of light through the holiday of Chanukah. Sometimes nicknamed “the festival of lights,” a key imagery of the holiday is the Chanukah Menorah, which is a nine-branched candlestick. Each night, an additional candle is lit so that the light grows with each of the eight nights of Chanukah. So why, if there are eight nights of Chanukah, are there nine branches on the Menorah? There is an extra candle that is lit each night, called the Shammash, which is known as the “helper” candle; this helper candle is lit first and then lights all the other candles.

At this time of year, when we think about generosity, giving, and spreading light, the Shammash does literally that: it gives of itself to the other candles and helps spread light. When the Shammash gives light to the other candles, its original light is not diminished; the light only grows as it is passed on. Just as with the lights of the Chanukah candles, when we exhibit generosity, we are not reducing our own capacity; the impact of giving is multiplied.

At Honeycomb, we help spread the light by training professionals, educators, and communities about the impact of Jewish youth philanthropy and how we can empower the next generation to be changemakers. The young people are carrying the torch, embodying the sacred task of giving, and spreading the light of their generosity.

For more ideas around incorporating giving into Chanukah celebrations or bringing the themes of Chanukah into the philanthropy process, download Honeycomb’s free Chanukah Enhancement Guide.