Banu chosech l’gareish, beyadeinu ohr va’esh
Kol echad hu ohr katan, v’chulanu ohr eitan
Surah choshech hal’ah sh’chor. Surah mipnei haor!

We come to chase away the darkness. In our hands are light and fire.
Each individual light is small, but together – our light is invincible.
Fight the darkness, chase away the blackness! Victory will be achieved because of the light!

This classic Israeli Chanukah song written in 1960 by Sara Levi-Tanai captures the essence of Chanukah: Jewish light dispels any darkness.

Over the past week, we were reminded of just how thick darkness can feel. On Sunday, the joy of Chanukah was shattered by the murderous attack in Australia. This horrific event amplified the darkness Jews have been feeling and heightened attention to vandalism of menorahs around the world, Jews attacked on subways and on the streets, and murders in Brookline, MA and Brown University.

At the same time, the light of Chanukah cannot be stopped.

Last Thursday, the IDF released video of hostages celebrating Chanukah in Hamas tunnels on the first night of Chanukah, December 8, 2023. Ori Danino is seen lighting a makeshift menorah with fellow........

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