The Light Of Hanukkah In Your Heart

Rabash, Letter 43: The candles will not glow until three conditions are met:

1. There is a candle, which is a vessel into which oil is poured,
2. There is oil,
3. There is a wick.

When these three conditions unite together, it becomes possible to rejoice for the light they produce.

These three conditions that are necessary for the light also reflect our structure. We consist of the will to enjoy, which acts egoistically. Therefore, when we look at the world, we see that it is full of suffering and problems.

No one acts honestly; everyone harms one another and I can't understand why the Creator (if He even exists) has created such a bad world. I would have made it much better if I were Him! I look at everything through my evil, egoistic desire, and that is why I see evil all around.

However, if I begin to override my confusion by thinking that the Creator is good and does everything well, whereas I feel evil only because I am bad, then all of these thoughts and desires collide inside me and contradict one another. This is called the "wick" (Ptila) because I discern where is the "waste" (Psolet) from my desire and what is bad about it.

The desire is a vessel and there is a "wick" inside it that is produced by overcoming the desire. These discernments (Birurim) give rise to the fuel (Beirut), meaning the oil-the Light of Hochma.

These three components are also present in the human soul, which desires to figure itself out and light up like a candle. They are also present in the regular candle, which is a symbol of the soul.

The vessel or desire was egoistic by nature, wanting "for its own sake." That is how I was born. With the help of studying Kabbalah in the group, I create a "wick" that can light up because I begin to fight back and discern who is the Creator and who am I. The "oil" is the result because this state gives rise to the "fuel."

I wage a struggle: I want to attain bestowal but I am incapable of it. I dash forward but my nature pulls me back. Pharaoh does not let me come out of his power. However, that is how I discern myself and the Creator, as well as the kind of system through which I can be connected to Him.

And after overcoming this a person merits the Light of the Creator that illuminates his soul, called the Light of Hannukah. This is the revelation of the Upper Providence, carrying goodness to the creatures.

From the 4^th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/01/10, Writings of Rabash