The Days of the Shortest Sunlight and the Nights of the Darkest Moon

by Nina Fondiller Woldin

Yesterday marked the winter solstice; the sun set at 4:30. We have been noting the winter solstice since ancient times, so I did what we have been doing since time began – put on my PJs and drank hot chocolate.

In the Talmud, the winter solstice marks Tekufat Tevet, the start of the winter season. (Tekufah means “cycle,” and refers to the beginning of each of the seasons in the Jewish calendar.)

According to our tradition, Adam was frightened by the diminishing daylight. He believed it was punishment for his sins. When he noticed the days getting longer after the winter solstice, he understood that it was the natural way of the world, and celebrated.

We celebrate Chanukah during the days of the shortest sunlight and the nights of the darkest moon. The increasing light of the candles each night is a symbol of our hope for renewed light.

Chanukah this year was particularly dark.

Chanukah this year was particularly dark. Our hearts were torn by the horrific terror attack on Bondi Beach, which also highlighted the intensifying antisemitism we have experienced since 10/7. For this reason, hope is more important than ever.

According to psychologist David Arnow in his book Choosing Hope: The Heritage of Judaism, “Jews have traditionally responded to our trials with hope, because we have had ready access to Judaism’s abundant reservoir of fundamental sources of hope in Judaism.”*

I am encouraged and inspired to action by the words of Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks:
“Optimism and hope are not the same. Optimism is the belief that the world is changing for the better; hope is the belief that, together, we can make the world better. Optimism is a passive virtue, hope an active one. It needs no courage to be an optimist, but it takes a great deal of courage to hope. The Hebrew Bible is not an optimistic book. It is, however, one of the great literatures of hope.”

As the sunlight increases each day, let’s also emerge brighter and stronger,  despite the challenges we encounter, finding ways to illuminate the world together.

*David Arnow will deliver a virtual live Scholars Circle lecture on this topic later this year.