5779 Chanukah Day 4 — Sitting in the Light of Emuna — Faith

Lifting up the Lights: A Rededication to the Sacred

Chanukah Day 4

Sitting in the Light of Emuna — Faith

Tradition teaches that it is helpful to begin each day with the prayer:

Modah ani lefanecha — I am grateful, present and in relationship with You, the Source of All Life. You have renewed my soul. Great is Your faith in me.

It is important to notice, that in addition to beginning each day with gratitude, we are urged to awaken with the awareness that the Source of All Life has great faith in us. When we are feeling good about ourselves and the movement of our lives, the Source of All Life has great faith in us. When we are feeling harried, troubled or sad, the Source of All Life has great faith in us. When we are feeling badly about ourselves or disappointed by what is occurring in our lives, the Source of All Life has great faith in us.

Every day, no matter what we awaken with upon our hearts and minds, the Source of All Life has great faith in us. On this fourth day of Chanukah, we sit in the light of emuna, the great faith that embraces and holds us always.

Meditation for the 4th day of Chanukah: Sitting in the Light of Emuna — Faith

We take our seats, bringing ourselves to an upright and awake posture. Letting the attention rest on the breath, we begin to repeat the phrase: rabah emunatecha, great is your faith in me. Over and over, traveling with the breath, rabah emunatecha, great is your faith in me. When we notice thoughts arising that seek to contradict this assertion, we gently and firmly, respond, rabah emunatecha. No matter what arises, no matter where we find ourselves, rabah emunatecha, the Source of All Life has great faith in us.

This faith is always and the Source of All Life calls us to awaken to this awareness again and again. We close the sit by repeating the phrase, bringing our hands to our chests and placing emuna upon our hearts.

—Rabbi Yael Levy
28 Kislev 5779

A Way In Chanukah 5779
This year A Way In has a variety of resources for a meaningful, mindful Chanukah. As an A Way In Instagram follower, you will be able to read and practice 8 NIGHTLY Jewish Mindfulness blessings and intentions from Rabbi Yael Levy.

These teachings will only be available in the A Way In Instagram stoies, and gathered together in a downloadable PDF, "Lifting Up the Lights," available to new and current newsletter subscribers and in our Instagram bio. Follow now

DAILY intentions from the Rededication to the Sacred series are meant to guide meditations during the eight Chanukah days. These will be available for our newsletter subscribers (subscribe here), and our followers on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Chanukah E-book
It is traditional to sing Hallel on each night of Chanukah. "Chanukah Lights: Psalms of Hallel," Rabbi Yael's e-book translation of the Psalms of Hallel (Psalms 113 to 118), is available for $4.99. Purchase the book.