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The National Jewish Post &Opinion Volume 76, Number 6 • December 2, 2009 • 15 Kislev 5770 Two Dollars www.jewishpostopinion.com HappyHappy HanukkahHanukkah Art by John Domont NAT 2 December 2, 2009 Hunger is increasing around the world About the Cover and one billion people go hungry every Editorial Shabbat Shalom day. We give thanks for the blessings in Hanukkah 5770 our lives, but let us also help others find I encourage you to take notice of the BY RABBI JON ADLAND blessing in their lives as well. It is not front cover art of this issue and also the John Domont speaking about his art, November 20, 2009, Toldot an unreasonable goal to think that the one for the next issue, Dec. 16. They light, and Hanukkah: (Genesis 25:19–28:9), 3 Kislev 5770 people of this world and the governments were specially created just for you, dear It is said that although who manage the resources can find a way readers, by artist John Domont. If you this is the physically Next Thursday we celebrate to eliminate hunger. The goal may be a like the art, be sure to visit his Web site darkest time of the Thanksgiving. Many of us will gather decade or two away, but that doesn’t www.domontgallery.com and/or email year, it is the time of with family or friends for a meal, some mean we shouldn’t try to find a way today John at [email protected] to greatest spiritual light! football, a warm fire, and a quiet day of to keep 16,000 children around the world thank him for his beautiful work. Hanukkah is the Season rest. Many of us will also take a few from dying each day of starvation or of Light – the experience moments to give thanks before we eat 18,000 children in Indianapolis from Last year at this time, an atrocity took of lighting candles is John Domont our meals. Without question, this past going hungry. place in Mumbai, India. At that time and always an opportunity year has been difficult for us in any It is incumbent upon us to try, and also because in my part of the world it for joy and communion – to surrender to number of ways making it so very Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday to was very cold and dark, I decided to the light and the silence of these. The light important that we stop and give thanks help us begin this journey and cause us to create the following eight meditations for penetrates me and touches my heart as I for the beauty and blessings in our lives. pause and reflect. Who are we as Jews Hanukkah.This year, set aside a little time surrender to the raw moment. Life is an As I have for many years, at least more and who are we as human beings if we to contemplate these after the blessings opportunity of learning and communing. than 15, I will begin my Thanksgiving by don’t do something to help fight hunger? over the candles and before the songs are There is no place inside so dark that light participating in an interfaith Thanksgiving There is plenty of food in the world sung or after the singing when the cannot go. There is no unconsciousness that eve service. Seven churches, two Muslim to feed everyone, but we need to candles are burning down or even after cannot be raised up with light, surrender groups, and Indianapolis Hebrew work together so that everyone shares in they go out. and wisdom. Hanukkah celebrates life – this Congregation will gather to say thank this bounty. First night: Imagine bringing the light time, this season will return to us what we you to God for bounty and blessings in As you go around your Thanksgiving from the one candle to any place in your give to it. The deeper the commitment, the our lives, our friendships, and pray for a table to say thanks for the blessings in body where there may be a health more sincere we surrender, the more we are better world tomorrow. This amazing your life, let us also remember that we concern or simply little aches and pains. flooded with life and her gifts. interfaith service reminds us of the true have the ability, the means, and the Let the warm sensation from the light About the artist: In his late 20s, Domont meaning of this holiday. power to help bring blessings into the relax the tight muscles around the pain. worked exclusively for conservation groups This year there will be five interfaith lives of others. We do try at IHC by Feel the area improving from the healing photographing threatened habitats and Thanksgiving services over a period of days working with the Interfaith Hospitality glow of the light and all stiffness and endangered species around the world. He in various locations around Indianapolis – Network, serving a meal once-a-month soreness is releasing. photographed so many different mammals north, south, east, west, and downtown. at Dayspring, contributing to Gleaners, Second night: Feel free to repeat the in water habitats that water became a At each service there will be a collection Second Helpings, IHI, Martin Luther first night meditation knowing that the primary focus for his artistic endeavors. for the Interfaith Hunger Initiative (IHI) King and Crooked Creek Community light is double in strength. Now think of In the process of abstracting the qualities that benefits Gleaners Pantry Partner Centers, and more. I feel blessed to be a any emotional pain you are feeling. Are of water, as transformed into its various program and the school lunch program part of this community of people who say you missing a close friend or relative who aspects of light, color, movement, and in Eldoret, which is in the Umoja Province “yes” and make a difference. Let us give had been celebrating Hanukkah with you energy, he began to experience a relation- of Kenya. Since the money is divided thanks and let us continue to help others every year? Were you expecting a raise or ship with painting. By 1983, painting had equally between the two programs, for find blessings. simply a holiday bonus but did not get it? become the primary focus of his work. every $36 collected one child in Eldoret When you light your Shabbat candles Let the light from the candles whirl in Domont’s paintings are an expression will receive school lunch for a year.Yes, it this evening, light one for the strength we your mind, dissolving all of the sadness of inspirations from nature and his only takes $18 to feed a child for a year. have to make a difference in the lives of and bitterness, replacing it with the relationship to the landscape. He strives Pantry Partners’money will help Gleaners those who are struggling. Light the other thought that something good is just to create harmony among the three forms work with local pantries to keep them for the blessings in our lives, the hands around the corner. of light available to an artist: surface light, open at hours that truly benefit those we hold, the hearts we touch, and the Third night: One can repeat night one the light of nature, and the light of spirit. who need them, such as the working friends we have. or any of the previous night’s meditations His art is about presence and place. mom or dad who can’t get there during Rabbi Adland is senior rabbi of on any of the upcoming nights as needed, Domont works in the Heartland, his the day. Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation. knowing that the light will be even home, where roads, pastures, fields, and brighter than it was the first time around. forests are the essence of the landscape of The National Jewish Now that you are feeling stronger, think the American Midwest. This countryside about any concerns with your family or is both simple and nourishing. It is in the close friends. Is one of them in harm’s basics of the landscape that one can see way? Grieving a loss? Not getting along and feel the beauty of the essential – the Post &Opinion with a spouse? Shine the light all around elements of land and sky, of nature and them bringing with it a sense of love humanity coming together. Rather than www.jewishpostopinion.com and peace. portraying the realism of the country Fourth night: Are there challenges in scene, Domont is in pursuit of the exper- Editorial and sales offices located at The Jewish Post & Opinion your neighborhood, your synagogue or the imental expression. When one stands 238 S. Meridian St., Suite 502, Indianapolis, IN 46225 Published biweekly by office: (317) 972-7800 • fax: (317) 972-7807 The Spokesman Co., Inc. city where you live? Some congregants alone in a field with grain and sky, wind (USPS 275-580) (ISSN 0888-0379) want to allow women on the bimah and and color as companions, an experience [email protected] Periodicals postage paid at others do not. Some Jews want a menorah of unity can occur. Address correspondence to: Indianapolis, IN 238 S. Meridian St., Suite 502, Indianapolis, IN 46225 in a public place and others oppose it. Let Domont is interested in expressing the All circulation correspondence should be addressed to the light swirl around the dark places harmony of the seen and unseen. This Publishers Advertising Director Accounting The National Jewish Post & Opinion, where differences of opinion are. Imagine experience of unity, which brings with it a Gabriel Cohen, z”l Barbara LeMaster Vivian Chan Subscription Department, it shining brightly over the situation sense of awe, supports and guides his Jennie Cohen 238 S.