Prompts and Reflections for Men During the Festival of Lights
THE LIGHT WITHIN
Prompt: The Shamash (Helper Candle) ignites all other lights of the Menorah without losing its own flame. Reflect on how you can light the lives of others without dimming your own inner light.
Reflection: In what ways have you felt the need to guard your light to fit traditional ideas of masculinity? How can you nurture and share your true self more freely?
COURAGE & VULNERABILITY
Night 1
Prompt: The Maccabees demonstrated bravery not just in battle but in their faith. True courage involves vulnerability and openness, not just physical strength.
Reflection: Where in your life can you replace guardedness with your vulnerability, and how might this strengthen your relationships?
REDEDICATION & RENEWAL
Night 2
Prompt: Hanukkah is a time of rededication, recalling the purification of the Temple. It invites us to rededicate ourselves to our most sacred values.
Reflection: What harmful or outdated beliefs about masculinity do you need to leave behind to rededicate yourself to being your most authentic self?
THE MIRACLE OF ENOUGHNESS
Night 3
Prompt: The miracle of the oil reminds us that what we have is often enough. Emotional stunting and over-guardedness often stem from a fear of not being enough.
Reflection: How can you embrace the belief that you are enough, just as you are, without needing to prove your worth through unhealthy masculine ideals?
BALANCING DARKNESS & LIGHT
Night 4
Prompt: Each night of Hanukkah brings more light into the darkness. Healthy masculinity involves balancing inner darkness (fear, anger, or insecurity) with the light of compassion, connection, and joy.
Reflection: What inner darkness do you need to confront and balance with light to be a healthier, more whole version of yourself?
THE POWER OF COMMUNITY
Night 5
Prompt: Hanukkah celebrates collective strength and unity. Isolation is often a trap for men caught in traditional masculine norms.
Reflection: How can you lean on and contribute to a community that encourages emotional authenticity?
ILLUMINATING RELATIONSHIPS
Night 6
Prompt: Hanukkah candles are places in the window to share their light with the world. Healthy masculinity involves sharing your true self with others, especially those outside our comfort zone.
Reflection: How can you better illuminate your relationships by being emotionally present and supportive, rather than guarded or distant?
REPAIRING THE WORLD
Night 7
Prompt: The Hanukkah is a symbol of hope, and resilience. As men, embracing your emotional depth can repair and heal – not just within yourself but in a broader world.
Reflection: How does being emotionally authentic and open contribute
STANDING AGAINST HATRED
Night 8
Prompt: The Hanukkah story is one of endurance and resistance to oppression. Forced assimilation, discrimination, hatred, and toxic behaviors are forms of societal oppression that men can challenge.
Reflection: Where in your life do you see oppressive and harmful masculine norms, and how can you resist them with strength and integrity?
The post Hanukkah for Macca-Bros first appeared on Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs.
