It’s that time of the year again – when the days grow short and the nights long, the cold sets in, we’ve gotten our first snow of the season, and we celebrate the Festival of Lights: Hannukkah!

On the one hand a celebration of the Maccabbean victory over the Greeks and rededication of the temple, Hanukkah is also a winter solstice festival. It’s no coincidence that in the darkest time of the year, we throw light into the darkness, Hanukiahs twinkling like stars through nighttime windows.

The light is cumulative – we add a candle each night for eight nights to represent an expansion of holiness into the world.

This year, as a new father, I thought it would be a nice opportunity to plant and grow a practice of gratitude. Each day of Hanukah, I’m going to list things that, as a father, I’m grateful for. Day one will be a list of one, day two will be two (new) things, etc …

I hope you’ll join me!

Day one is easy – I’m grateful for this little ginger plum, the extraordinary Red Panda Cub, who is the healthiest and happiest baby we could ever ask for.

Hanukkat Sameach – to a very happy and thankful Hanukkah!