CBT ToolTalk #50: Lighting Up the Darkness Within

When we light the Chanukiah during Chanukah, there’s a well-known halachah: we place it below ten tefachim, at a low height, close to the darkness of the street. We’re bringing light down to where it’s most needed.

The Nesivos Shalom explains that the Chanukah lights are an or penimi, an internal light, not just an external one. The real miracle isn’t only about lighting up the outside world; it’s about lighting up the darkness within ourselves.

Often, the darkest places are the hidden corners of our own minds — the fears, the doubts, the moments when we lose hope. Just as we place the Chanukiah low to illuminate the darkest spots, we also need to light up our inner darkness by bringing gentle awareness and hope to those parts of ourselves.

In practical terms, this means we need to identify and gently challenge the thoughts that keep us in the dark. It means finding those small sparks of inner light — moments of gratitude, small victories, or positive beliefs — and nurturing them, especially when things feel heavy.

🛠 Getting Practical — What to Focus on at Candle Lighting

Here are a few CBT-aligned moments you can incorporate into your Chanukah candle lighting:

1. Notice how the light reaches the everyday place.

As you light low and near, think of something that feels dark inside you — a worry or fear — and imagine light reaching into it.

2. Replace a negative thought with a truthful one.

Example: Replace “I always fail” with “I am learning and growing.”

3. Connect light to calmness.

Take a slow breath after lighting and say: “Hashem, May this light bring awareness and calm to my thoughts.”

So this Chanukah, as you light the candles, think of it as a reminder: the real goal is to bring light into the darkest places inside you. Each small step of awareness, each gentle shift in perspective, is like placing another candle in a place that was once dark.

May Hashem guide you, with the help of the lights of the Chanukiah, to find your inner light.