A New Year Message: Light in the Darkness

Usually, when I write my article to welcome the new year, I’m full of optimism. Today, however, I’m filled with sadness after hearing the tragic news of the mass shooting in Australia, a senseless and heartbreaking loss of innocent lives. These were people simply celebrating Hanukkah with their families.
Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, has been celebrated for over 2,000 years. It marks the triumph of the few over the many, freedom over oppression, and goodness over evil. Against all odds, the Jewish people responded to hatred with love, overcame evil with goodness, and dispelled darkness by adding light. A little light, after all, dispels a lot of darkness.
Our world today is in desperate need of that light. The Jewish concept of Tikun Olam, repairing the world, reminds us that healing begins with each of us. It happens when we choose compassion, when we open our hearts to understanding, and when we see ourselves in one another. Only then can we create peace. Every time we stand up for what is right, we are all made stronger.
As J.K. Rowling wrote: “We’ve all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. That’s who we really are.”
Now more than ever, we must spread goodness and light. Our future depends on it.
With prayers and hope for making our world a safer and kinder place, I wish us all a Happy New Year.
Naomi Young has been a teacher in Santa Clarita for over forty-three years of experience in Jewish studies and bar/ bat mitzvah training. She is also a seasoned writer and multimedia artist. You can reach her via email at naomiyoung7@yahoo.com or explore her creative endeavors on her website, www.naomiyoung.com.