Hanukkah: Defiance, Mourning, and Hope

The author reflects on the contrasting symbolism of a Hanukkah menorah lit by their family in 1931 Germany against the backdrop of a swastika, and the recent image of Israeli soldiers erecting a menorah on the ruins of Palestinian homes in Gaza. They argue that the former represents defiance and the sanctity of ritual, while the latter glorifies death and destruction. The author calls on the Jewish community to use their faith, tradition, and culture to fight against hatred, fear, and vengeance, and to prioritize bringing home hostages, ending suffering in Gaza, and achieving a political resolution that protects all lives in the region.