Dear Lab/Shul

If you had to dedicate your life to one thing, what would it be? A cause? A people? A dream?

Hanukkah, beginning this Thursday, is one of our beloved holidays, and while it has different origin stories, some grounded in history and some in myth – it is a holiday whose Hebrew name means ‘dedication’ and that is the essence of this festival of fire, faith and family.

This Hanukkah, while the war keeps claiming innocent lives, causing so much pain and confusion, rupturing relationships and still so far from over — what can we dedicate ourselves to?

How can we lift up the spirit of this holiday that celebrates survival and resilience? This question is one that our storytellers have been asking for over 2000 years, as many generations added their songs and stories, recipes and traditions to Hanukkah. In this season, as the nights grow long, making space for dream-searching and darkness-listening, we have an ancestral invitation to re-dedicate our spirit.

This Hanukkah I choose to dedicate myself to radical imagining.
I choose to soften the heart with a breath and call to mind a hope.
With every candle you light –
Let the hope seed a bit, let it bloom. This is an act of radical imagining.
Call hope to life and name what you see in your mind’s eye.
Bravely envision a path forward, as much as you can, even a little bit. 

Imagine the power of collective dedication this season. The Lab/Shul team invites you to make Hanukkah meaningful with us, to spark wonder and light up peace.

We will light from our homes, with families and friends and you are invited to join us and rededicate ourselves: imagine the power of our collective! Check out our rituals for each of the EIGHT NIGHTS.

Want to light with us in person? It is not too late to join us this weekend (12/8-12/10) at our Annual Winter Retreat in Connecticut, where we will gather under the night sky for dedicated dreaming. Artist-driven programming for the heart, mind and soul, more than 400 acres of forest and meadows, and delicious farm to table vegetarian cuisine.

So this Hanukkah, as you prepare to light the first candle, dedicate yourself to this sacred act with extra intention:

Try it with me:
I dedicate this moment to __________.

We are excited to share some Hanukkah gifts with you. Please stay tuned later this week for special blessings we have been working on for you.

From my radical imagination
to yours,

Shira Kline
Co-Founder and Spiritual Leader