Dear Friends,

Hanukkah is a time when we gather with family and community in the light of the menorah, reminded that we as Jews never face the darkness alone. 

In my video reflections above, I draw inspiration from the two Hanukkah miracles we retell each year. One is the miracle of the oil — when a single day’s supply burned for eight — which teaches us that hope and resilience can carry us forward no matter what we face. The other is the courageous victory of the Maccabees, who fought to preserve Jewish life and practices. This reminds us that we, too, can stand tall as proud Jews, protect one another, and keep the Jewish story alive together.

Lighting the Hanukkiah (the Hanukkah menorah) is more than a ritual; it is a form of spiritual and cultural resistance. Throughout history, there have been those who tried to erase Jewish life entirely and those who pressured Jews to hide who we are. The most powerful response is for us to live proudly and publicly as Jews — placing our Hanukkiah in the window, teaching our children our story, and carrying our traditions forward with confidence.

Thank you for all you do to build strong, vibrant, light-filled Jewish community here in Greater Boston and around the world.

Chag Urim Sameach and Happy Hanukkah.