Bozeman is fortunate to have Gallatin County Search & Rescue, a dedicated team that spares no effort to help those lost in the mountains, rivers, back country, and everywhere in between. When a call comes in or the Beacon signal is sent, these heroic men and women don’t hesitate—they drop everything and rush into danger to save lives.

Chanukah is a perfect time for spiritual "search and rescue." During this Festival of Light, we aim not only to ignite our own inner flame and those of our loved ones but also to spread the light of Torah and Mitzvos to every corner of the world. It's not our job to figure out how others ended up in a dark place, nor do we judge whether they deserve the light. Like Search and Rescue, we drop everything to bring the light of the Menorah to every Jew, wherever they are.

In December 1999, I traveled with friends from the Rabbinical College of America in Morristown, New Jersey, to Youngstown, Ohio, to bring the joy of Chanukah to the Jewish community. One stop was the Polk State Center, a psychiatric facility with only one Jewish patient. That visit left a deep mark on my 19-year-old soul.

You see, the man we visited may not have fully understood the blessings and songs, but he smiled as the Menorah's light touched his soul, just as it touches ours. Light reaches the essence of a person, regardless of their level of consciousness. Everyone wants light, everyone needs light, and we must share the light with everyone in our orbit. This Chanukah let’s resolve to brighten the world from the inside out, starting with our inner flame, then illuminating our little part of the universe. Light is contagious. Chavie and I, along with our colleagues around the state, wish you and yours an illuminating and Freilichen Chanukah!

Rabbi Chaim Bruk