As the Jewish national liberation celebration of Hanukkah nears -- our Festival of Light -- the lights of hope for an end to the war dimmed Friday morning with the resumption of fighting between Israel and Hamas. The hope for any peace between the two peoples living between the Jordan and the Mediterranean seems almost laughably faint. For now, we in the Nafshenu community need to be there for each other. Please join me and your friends this morning (10-11am) on Zoom for a short Shabbat morning service and Torah study. We will have prayers for peace, for healing, and for remembering those who have fallen. We will use the regular Nafshenu Zoom link: bit.ly/NafTorah.

Thursday marks the first night of Hanukkah, so please put Nafshenu’s Hanukkah party and cook-off on your calendar. We're doing it on the last night of Hanukkah, Friday, Dec. 15,* from 6-9pm at Prince of Peace. Our own Etty Lassman will demonstrate her famous latke-making talents as we put together a festive holiday mean. Watch your email for details and signup information.

Wishing all of you blessings of peace and comfort. – Rabbi David

*We're technically extending the holiday for one extra night so we can have the time together. Traditionally, Thursday night (Dec. 14) would be the time for lighting all eight candles. We will repeat the eight-candle lighting on Friday, before we light the Shabbat candles.