This week, we celebrate Hanukkah, during the darkest time of the year. And this year, that darkness feels especially close.
In the wake of recent tragedies and brutal attacks against Jews—from Australia to campuses and cities around the world—many of us are carrying fear, anger, and grief. And yet, it is precisely now that Hanukkah meets us.
At its core, Hanukkah is the story of light overcoming darkness.
Under the rule of the Seleucid Greek Empire in the second century BCE, the Jewish people were pressured to assimilate—to abandon our practices, our identity, and our way of life. The Second Temple in Jerusalem was desecrated, and what we held sacred was violated.
In response, a small group of Jewish priests and farmers—the Maccabees, led by the family of Mattathias and his son Judah Maccabee—rose up in defense of Jewish life and religious freedom. Though vastly outnumbered, they prevailed. When they returned to the Temple, there was only one small jug of ritually pure oil—seemingly not enough—yet it burned for eight days.
Hanukkah reminds us that being small does not mean being powerless. That even when the odds are stacked against us, light endures. That despite every attempt to erase us, we are still here.
That is why we place the hanukkiah in the window, facing the outside world. We do not hide our light. And each night, as the winter grows darker, we add more.
As you light your candles this week, choose visibility, courage, and Jewish continuity. Choose to be fearless. Choose to be you.
Ask yourself: What is the unique light that only you can bring into the world?
That is what we need—now more than ever.
To help you celebrate with meaning and intention, download our complimentary Hanukkah Guide—featuring blessings, music, recipes, and reflections for the holiday.
