What if cleaning the hanukkiyah after Hanukkah was a task to be praised and not cursed?
What if removing the melted wax was a sacred act just like lighting the candles was?
What if, as we poured hot water on the Hanukkah menorah, melting the colored wax, we said a prayer for melting away sadness and injustice and restoring hope and goodness?
What if, as we buffed the metal to make it shine, we were buffing out our own hurts and blemishes, seeking beauty and wholeness?
What if returning the menorah to its shiny condition was a way to return our soul to its purity and innocence?
Blessed are you, Spirit of the Universe, who gives us strength to try, again and again, to see the light, to spread the light, and to be the light — even as we return the hanukkiyah to the shelf for another year.Â
