Rebellion of Love
Hanukkah Sermon by Rabbi Zelig Golden
29 Kislev 5786 (December 19, 2025)
בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית בָּרָ֣א אֱלֹהִ֑ים אֵ֥ת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֵ֥ת הָאָֽרֶץ. וְהָאָ֗רֶץ הָיְתָ֥ה תֹ֙הוּ֙ וָבֹ֔הוּ וְחֹ֖שֶׁךְ עַל־פְּנֵ֣י תְה֑וֹם וְר֣וּחַ אֱלֹהִ֔ים מְרַחֶ֖פֶת עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הַמָּֽיִם. וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֖ים יְהִ֣י א֑וֹר וַֽיְהִי־אֽוֹר׃
The first words of Torah teach, When Create began to create heaven and earth, there was unformed chaos, and the first Divine act:
“Let there be light.” And there was light.
It’s puzzling because the sun and moon—M’Orot—the Great lights that govern our days and nights—don’t appear until the fourth day of creation.
So what was this first light?
Bereishit Rabbah teaches that this was a spiritual light so radiant that the Holy One wrapped it like a garment, its glow stretched from one end of the world to the other.
The Sefat Emet explains: The light of the sun from Day 4 is a measured light, governing time, seasons, cycles. It tells us when to wake and sleep, plant and harvest.
The light of the first day is an inward, infinite light—Or Ayn Sof—a light that reveals the inner essence of reality itself.
The Baal Shem Tov teaches that this light goes into hiding, due to the realities of this world that dark and light must co-exist in some sacred balance. Or HaGanuz—the hidden light—still shines. But in our time it requires conscious kindling. It must be drawn forth from within the darkness itself. This is the spiritual work of Hanukkah
The Mei HaShiloach teaches the Hanukkah story is not just a tale of rebellion and victory. It’s a broader story of true power - the Greeks then were not merely opposing Jewish practice—they were fighting to keep Or HaGanuz hidden so they could maintain power because the Temple was our place to cultivate the divine light.
When the Temple fell, the light did not disappear. Our sages teach that It remains alive within all things, within each of us - all people - all of Creation.
Hanukkah reminds us—to rededicate ourselves—to that infinite inner light.
This teaching feels especially urgent tonight.
Just five days ago, at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, fifteen lives were extinguished in an act of antisemitic violence. Our hearts are heavy. We dedicate this gathering to the memories of those killed, injured, and all left traumatized and bereft.
As Hanukkah teaches us to never deny the darkness - We pause with this pain.
Hanukkah is seasonally brilliant precisely because it meets us here. It’s our only festival that always spans two Hebrew months, including the darkest night of the year: the new moon closest to the winter solstice.
That’s Tonight.
Hanukkah does not end in the darkness, rather we light the lights for two more nights. This is the hope of Hanukkah. The promise that yes, darkness will come, and light will always be there to be rekindled.
This year especially, may we answer the darkness of hatred—within ourselves and in the world—by claiming Hanukkah for what it truly is:
A refusal to let the hidden light go dark.
A rebellion of love.
At this darkest moment in the cycle of our seasonal year, and in the midst of darkness we face in the world today, and in the spirit of love, presence, courage - I ask you:
What light are you rededicating yourself to?