This is the time of year when we celebrate many occasions. I would like to extend my warmest wishes to all of you as you gather for spiritual and emotional renewal, as you light candles, enjoy traditional foods, exchange gifts, and reconnect with family and friends to celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, and New Year’s. The Winter Solstice is also symbolic to many people.

What do these holidays have in common? Light. We light candles and decorate with lights. We’re enlightened with scripture, history, and family traditions. We’re brightened by gifts and goodies.

In winter, people sometimes feel introspective and even depressed. The days get shorter and darker. Truly some feel like they are hibernating in the shadows. The Solstice promises a shift in our light, and Christmas, hope in a rebirth with a new year and a new spring. Hanukkah and Kwanzaa teach that we can rise up against the…