Rabbi Scott Fox of Temple Israel Long Beach: Sermons and Reflections

Bookshops and Brains

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Remarks for City Hannukah Menorah Lighting 2025

Our bodies have a tremendous amount of wisdom. It’s already in there, housed like book stacks lined up alongside the genes that make our hair brown or our feet flat. You can see this from the youngest child, an inherent knowledge to sleep and eat that is preverbal, deeper than self awareness is a built in system that helps us get what we need. And this goes further than our basic physical needs. For hundreds of thousands of years our bodies have also been drawn to light. We rise with the sun in the morning and over time found ourselves drawn to the light also made when we kindle a fire. I imagine the first gatherings of people after the sun had gone to rest, a circle around a fire of people not yet familiar with one another, and somehow inspired to move toward its warmth. Our communities are based around shared needs, and when dark and cold come strongly into the world we have a need for light and warmth. Our Jewish ritual for this time, which came much later than those first campsites, is similar to so many others for this winter season. At a time when things are dark, we gather together around the light. So thank you for sharing in this light this Hannukah season, when we kindle our winter lights and celebrate the warmth that comes from a glow far greater than any resting on these ancient and storied branches. Happy Hannukah. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rabbiscottfox.substack.com [https://rabbiscottfox.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]