Rabbi Jamie’s Corner
December 2024
We’re happy to share these thoughts on current events or holiday themes from Rabbi Jamie Hyams (our Development Director). Feel free to reach out to Jamie directly at jamie@hflasf.org if you would like to talk about any of the ideas discussed here.
“Jewish tradition teaches us that Moses was chosen to be the leader of the Jewish people not because of his leadership skills, but because he was said to have cared about every sheep in his flock and each member of his tribe.”*
The idea of caring about each unique individual in our community is central to Hebrew Free Loan. The lives each of us lead are different, one from the other. Our joys and our “oys” are not the same, and when someone applies for a Hebrew Free Loan, whether to pay for college or to help with overwhelming credit card debt, we work with them to tailor a solution that will suit their needs. Facing life’s challenges often comes with worry and anxiety. Debt, employment challenges, illness, and even the happy moments like planning a wedding or a b’nai mitzvah can be stressful, and stress is detrimental to one’s physical and emotional health.
This December, Hanukkah begins on the 25th and falls at the darkest time of the year. Hanukkah is a story of hope and faith that things will improve and that we are not alone. The Maccabees had faith that a small cruse of oil would last long enough for more to be brought, so that the flame of the menorah in the Temple in Jerusalem would not go out. They took a leap of faith, the first step toward rebuilding after a devastating battle.
So it is with us. The first steps to charting a new course in life are to recognize that we have a need or a problem and to have the faith to take the first step toward resolution. That might be asking for help from those around us, or it might be filling out an application to Hebrew Free Loan.
Each night for eight nights of Hanukkah, as we add another candle to our Hanukkah menorah, the warmth and light grow. That increasing glow teaches us that taking the first step, that first action of faith, is the spark to a brighter and warmer future.
Wishing you a happy Hanukkah,
~ Rabbi Jamie
*“Leadership and Service: Stepping into the Shamash Role”, The Blue Dove Foundation, 2024
