This year the celebrations of Chanukah and Christmas coincide on the calendar. We light the first candle of Chanukah on Christmas Eve. I like when this happens. The joint spirit of celebration imposes greater awareness and sensitivity to each group’s hopes and prayers for the future.

Both faiths have a story of bright light. Christians believe the “Star of Bethlehem” led eastern kings to the manger and the birth of their saviour. Jews look to the light from the menorah candles to remind us of our victory over King Antiochus and his Greek soldiers by Judas Maccabee and his followers. Both religions want us to look for an unexpected and miraculous source of light to guide us to a better world.

Light leads the way to salvation for Christians and Jews and provides a miracle of devotion to our God. Without light, there would be no real vision, and both Christianity and Judaism certainly provide vision for people of faith.

The winter solstice is a dark and ominous time and our lives and it seems to lack a positive vision. The darkness of spirit or circumstance can be overwhelming. All around us there is suffering; not only around the world, but right in our own back yards. Darkness creeps into our beings when we see hardworking people severed from their pensions or healthcare because of corporate greed and government indifference. It is the light of our spiritual beliefs that makes it possible for us to reach into the darkness and bring relief to those less fortunate souls.

During this very special holiday season, Jews, Christians and all people of faith must bring the glow of festive light into the lives of others who desperately need it. We must find ways to encourage our governments to speak with their dollars and not just their political talking points, and we must find ways to do our share to bring a better life to those who have so little.

It is my sincere hope that the Menorah candles and the Star of Bethlehem will light the way in our hearts and minds and bring us all together in a common goal of doing good in the world. As Jews we must always remember the rule of Tikkun Olum every day of our lives, but during these holidays let’s make that goal a joint effort between all faiths.