Paris: The Scale of Hanukkah Lighting in the French Capital

In the center of the French capital, where lights unite to honor faith, creativity, and strength, the Hanukkah menorahs illuminate as a touching reminder that each individual light adds to a more radiant world.

While winter envelops Paris in its chill, the city shines magnificently, earning its name as the “City of Light”. In this exhibition, Hanukkah menorahs glow softly but clearly, each bringing its own special sparkle. In the midst of this exhibition, Hanukkah menorahs shimmer gently but powerfully, each offering a unique sparkle. What is the significance of these Jewish symbols in a city bursting with light? How does the message of Hanukkah resonate in Paris, a center of culture, faith and history?

Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, commemorates the miracle of the menorah in Jerusalem’s temple, where a tiny amount of oil lasted for eight days. It’s a tribute to strength, faith and identity. Paris, on the other hand, is historically linked to the Enlightenment, artistic expression and universal ideals. For the Jewish community, these two radiant histories converge every December, underscoring Hanukkah’s distinct heritage and the shared values of light as a representation of knowledge and optimism.

In recent years, menorahs have become increasingly visible in public spaces across Paris, in famous locations such as the Eiffel Tower and Place de la Bastille. Coordinated by Chabad-Lubavitch and other Jewish groups, these communal illuminations encourage Jews and non-Jews alike to honor shared principles of peace, acceptance and solidarity.

“The public exhibition of the menorah is not meant to compete with Christmas. It involves sharing our light with the world, showing that the Jewish community plays an essential role in France’s story” states Rabbi David Pinto, an important leader in the French Jewish community.

“Hanukkah is a festival of religious freedom, and in a secular country like France, it challenges us to think about the balance between private faith and public life,” Pinto explains. “Paris, as a cultural city, provides a platform for this dialogue, where menorahs stand alongside the lights of Noël as symbols of coexistence.”

Regarding Sarah Benamou, a French journalist, she notes that “the City of Light used to be a refuge for Jewish refugees and thinkers.”

For families observing Hanukkah in Paris, the event is a blend of personal significance and community celebration. Numerous individuals come together around their menorahs in the intimacy of their residences, while others join in communal festivities. The lively Jewish community in the Marais is thriving with bakeries offering sufganiyot (traditional jelly doughnuts) and kosher eateries presenting Hanukkah-themed meals.

“Strolling through the Marais during Hanukkah feels enchanting,” says Leah, a mother of three from Paris. “The menorah placed in our window seems like a modest yet meaningful act—a method to honor our beliefs while appreciating the city’s charm surrounding us.”

Paris is commonly called the “City of Light” because of its role as an educational center and its lead in implementing street lighting. In this situation, the menorah acquires a deeper meaning. It celebrates not just Jewish resilience but also the universal ideals of enlightenment, inclusion, and the triumph of hope over despair.

The Jewish community perceives the lights of Hanukkah as a dialogue with the broader cultural and historical identity of the city. Every menorah lit in Paris serves to honor an ancient miracle while also affirming a modern reality: that the radiance of the Jewish community is a vital component of the French Capital’s lasting brilliance.