Welcome to Winter!
Well, as much of winter as Petaluma gets. While we are under a freeze warning, it is certainly milder than a Siberian winter.
Considering that even warmer climates still get the winter designation, it got me thinking. What is winter, if not just snowball fights and icy roads? Is it just a signal that a vacation (or stay-cation) is just around the bend?
The common denominator across the Northern Hemisphere is that the nights are longer. There is a lack of light. The sunlight that we became so accustomed to over the summer months, is now something we can't get enough of.
At first glance, it seems like an unfortunate time of year. It's dark, cold, and unfriendly. Yet it is precisely at this time that an opportunity arises. The opportunity 
for us to shine, to share, to warm up the night. Light can only be appreciated in contrast to darkness.
It is this season when we huddle together sipping hot-cocoa around the fireplace. It is during this season when the world as a whole gets into the giving spirit. It is at this time, that we gather together with our family and community to light the Menorah and brighten the night. That is what happened this past Sunday night for Chanukah at the river as 300 gathered together to say no to darkness, to fight for light.
A Yiddish expression describes two ways of staying warm. One is to put on a fur coat, ensuring that I am comfortable and cozy. The second method is to heat up the furnace, thereby sharing the warmth with everyone in our circles, and changing the reality from cold to warm.
So whether you are off to Tahoe for some snow, or your are hunkering down for some family time, let's keep the light of Chanukah shining and create the warmest winter for our families, neighbors, and community!
ב"ה