I Keep Lighting Candles 5th night of Hanukkah

Musings on an Inner Spiritual Journey

5th Night of Hanukkah  December 29, 2024 

"I reach out to my ancestors and they reach back to me"

I honor my ancestors on all sides...CH White bent over his bible on his

porch in Waco, Texas... and the glorious tempestuous union of my

late parents James And Emily White whose backgrounds shaped my life.

And I honor my mysterious yearnings that stretched out over the years as I taught 

art in the Jewish Day School and learned the inner and outer cycles of the Jewish Holidays.

"The Steps of the mikvah are cool and green. I look around and then descend into the

deep waters of my soul. It has taken years and years to reach this point. 

I feel the cool eternal waters washing over my toes."

The Joy I felt.

Now 21 years later, on this fifth night of Hanukkah that marks time

I cannot stop lighting candles and soon the room is filled with light

reaching out into the dark night. Proclaiming my joy and inner light.

I continue to reach to my ancestors.

unknown, Isaac, my grandmother Ann, my mother Emily, Hannah. unknown.

My Hebrew name reflects who they were and I love the inner meaning of their names.

Hannah Yitzachah is my name.

Comfort and Laughter!