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‘May We Spread Light…’
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Sunday, December 24, 2017
 

STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

Rockin’ Rabbi Robbi bellied up to the microphone and issued a challenge to the members of the Wood River Jewish Community.

“Tonight we’re going to have the dreidel schmeidel challenge where I challenge you to come up with something a dreidel is made of that I can’t rhyme,” she told them.

The challenges came fast and furious, with adults and children alike tossing out such building materials as porcelain, diamond and wood for the spinning tops that are a part of Hanukkah.

And the rabbi-cantor proved she was up to the task--even when someone suggested Styrofoam--as she made up a ditty about packing peanuts taking over her home set to the music of “I Have a Little Dreidel.”

The faithful of the Wood River Valley came together this week, as their Jewish forefathers have done since 139 BC, to celebrate Hanukkah, or the Festival of Lights. The festival celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem to the service of God following the victory of a small band of Jews over one of the mightiest armies on earth.

This time they were led by Rabbi-Cantor Robbi Sherwin, one of three rabbis being considered to lead the congregation as it heads into 2018.

Sherwin, an Air Force brat who commutes to Crested Butte, Colo., from Austin, Texas, was ordained as a  cantor in 2003 and as a rabbi in 2014. She has made a name for herself across the United States as part of a five-man band called Sababa, which means "awesome" in both Hewbrew and Arabic. Touted as the Crosby, Stills and Nash of Jewish music, the band has recorded four albums of original Jewish folk, rock, pop and Jewgrass music, and they sing around the world--not just in Jewish venues.

Accompanied by her husband Mark—a lawyer—she put her spirited Jewish song crafting on display as she led the congregation through a retelling of the festival, in which the Jewish people light one candle for each of eight nights.

“We light the first candle for the earth,” said a lineup of youth, including DJ Delgado, Ethan Dessler, Rowan Dessler and Riley Siegel. “God gave us the gifts of clean air and water, magnificent mountains and sacred outdoor spaces. May we be good stewards of these precious resources and protect the earth with our steadfast care. May we wake up with God’s light in our hearts every morning.”

Eight more candles followed:

The second was for family and the third for friendship.

“May we spread light upon those who befriend us and embrace opportunities to bring others into our lives,” the congregation intoned. “May no one ever be alone.”

They lit the fourth candle for loved ones who have passed away, voicing hope that the best of them would inspire those left behind to become the best they can be.

They lit the fifth candle for freedom and the blessings of living in a democracy as they prayed that they might continue to be a light unto the nations.

They lit the sixth candle for gratefulness, the seventh for learning and the eighth for peace.

“May we never give up on our belief that peace is possible,” they prayed.

And, on this particularly night they lit a ninth—done on this occasion because they were holding their community celebration one day past the normal eight-day festival.

“The ninth candle is the helping candle. It helps all the other candles bring light into the world. I want everyone to think about the helpers in our lives, those who help us to make our lives better,” she said. “We dedicate this night to all the people in our lives—the teachers, the doctors…and yes, even lawyers.”

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