What can Jews & the World Learn from Hanukah?

I wanted to start my Times of Israel Blog for Hanukah with a song written by our former Cantor Natalie Young, “Be the Light.” It expresses hope and resilience and advises us to bring our own light out into the world. It’s also a theme that I write about in this Times of Israel Blog, “What can Jews & the World Learn from Hanukah? In these dark times, we all need to be and see more light. Amen.

Festival of Lights and Resilience

After the past eight days, Hanukah 2025 has ended. As usual, there were celebrations throughout the world. I couldn’t resist posting the picture above from Raykjavik, Iceland.

What lessons remain? As Jews, many of us feel we need another miracle — I certainly do. Hanukah is the “Festival of Lights,” reminding us that spiritual illumination should brighten not only our lives but the world around us. We all could use more light in our lives, guiding us toward a more enlightened path.

Hanukah tells of Jewish resilience: the Maccabees’ victory over the Seleucid (Syrian Greek) armies in 164 BCE and the rededication of the desecrated Temple in Jerusalem. The word Hanukah itself means dedication. The miracle of the menorah — one jar of pure oil lasting eight days — symbolizes faith, resilience, and the power of light to overcome darkness.

We use our Hanukiahs (menorahs lit for Hanukah) and light a candle for each night of the eight days.

Tradition teaches that the menorah’s lights are not for practical use — but for contemplation.  They symbolize holiness and divine presence, much like Shabbat invites us to pause from ordinary work and reflect on our inner lives, our families, and the world around us.

Lessons from History

When reviewing Jewish history, ancient and recent, it’s hard to keep up with the numerous mass murders.

The destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE by the Romans marked another defining trauma. Romans had razed most of Jerusalem, murdered and enslaved tens of thousands of Jews, imposed high taxes and diverted profits from trade to Elites and Rome, and paraded sacred treasures, leaving many Jews impoverished.

Does this history sound familiar? Too often it feels like the same tragedy, repeated in a different century. It should be a cautionary tale for the Elites and politicians.

Judaism transformed into Rabbinic Judaism, emphasizing Torah study, prayer, and acts of kindness — a profound shift away from sacrifices toward spiritual practice.

The First Temple, built around 957 BCE by King Solomon, was destroyed in 586 BCE by the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar II. Many Jews from the Kingdom of Judah were forcibly deported to Babylon. It’s another chapter in the suffering Jewish lexicon. The Babylonian Exile helped shape Jewish identity and scripture.

The Talmud notes that the Temple’s windows were designed to shine light outward, symbolizing that spiritual illumination should brighten the world beyond its walls. Even a small flame can dispel great darkness, echoing the Maccabees’ triumph against overwhelming odds. Yet history reminds us that while life changes quickly, the ugliest stories repeat across centuries with new storytellers.

Speaking of being carried off to distant lands without choice, listening to slain, hostage Ran Gvili’s AI-generated video request for President Trump to “finish what he started,” was very sad and surreal. We’re grateful that the majority of hostages have been returned home — yet one remains lost in the shards of Gaza. His name is Ran Givili.

He was 24 and the last hostage whose body has still not been returned. It was reported that Ran Gavili was an officer in Israel’s Yasam elite police unit and was on medical leave when he learned of the attack. He left home and brought his gun to counter the Hamas militants.

He was shot in the fighting at the Alumim kibbutz before he was taken to Gaza and while being held, succumbed to his wounds.

According to the news, his family gave permission to release the AI-generated video. “Seeing and hearing Rani speak in his own voice is both
moving and heartbreaking. I would give anything to hear, see, and hold him again,” Gvili’s mother, Talik, said, quoted by the Forum.

“But all I can do now is plead that they don’t move to the next phase of the agreement before bringing Rani home — because we don’t leave heroes
behind.”

It’s representative of the sorrowful nation of Israel still at war on so many fronts, and the suffering of its people.

There’s still more suffering for the bereaved families of the hostages. It appears that, instead of the current law establishing the inquiry for October 7th, which would set up a state commission of inquiry selected by the judiciary, Netanyahu is pushing for a politically appointed commission. During the vote in the Knesset regarding the appointment of the politically selected commission, the bereaved families attended and stood up holding signs with pictures of their beloved family members lost, and they turned their backs toward the voting members.

More than 200 ex-hostages, relatives of former hostages, and family members of deceased hostages have signed a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding that he establish a state commission of inquiry into the failures surrounding the October 7, 2023, assault.

“We call on the Israeli government to stop evading, stop postponing, stop whitewashing, and establish a state commission of inquiry immediately,” the letter demands.

“We demand truth, justice, and accountability,” it continues. “If you have no intention of taking responsibility and establishing such a commission, as demanded by the majority of the nation, vacate your seats and let the nation decide.”

As reported in The Times of Israel, “the signees state in the letter that they are demanding a transparent probe that examines every event of October 7, including ‘the collapse of the defense and intelligence systems, the unanswered calls for help, the hours-long abandonment of the Gaza border communities, and the abandonment of the civilians and soldiers to the inferno.’”

Modern Struggles

In 2025, being Jewish is challenging worldwide. Our very existence is being defamed, denied, and attacked with falsehoods. Antisemitic incidents have surged, with over 6,300 cases reported between January and November, averaging 18 per day. The Bondi Beach Hanukah massacre in Australia, where 11 were killed and ~30 wounded, was among the deadliest attacks. Reports confirm antisemitism is at its highest level since the pre-Holocaust era.

Israel was attacked on October 7, 2023, when innocents were horrifically murdered, raped, tortured, and taken hostage. Terrorists proudly broadcasted their crimes, calling them resistance and urging global intifada. Advocating murder is not free speech — it is incitement.

War and Responsibility

As of late December 2025, Israel is engaged in multi front conflicts against Hamas (Gaza), Hezbollah (Lebanon), Iranian backed militias in Syria and Iraq, the Houthis (Yemen), and Iran itself. This means Israel is effectively fighting across five to seven fronts, depending on how one counts state versus proxy involvement.

Israel’s wartime policies endanger Jews worldwide, though diaspora Jews have no explicit power to influence them. Israel’s devastating campaign in Gaza, perhaps intended to reduce risk to its soldiers, and all Israelis, has created long‑term consequences. Although Israel has a right and duty to protect itself, humans must learn to make different choices than war. You can’t deny its barbarism. The price is too high. Lives are lost, bodies are maimed, and new incentives for martyrdom are tragically created.

The juxtaposition of seeking community and comfort in synagogue versus acknowledged danger is infuriating. Temples have become fortresses, with bulletproof glass and armed security, even in the United States.

Do I believe that Hamas intentionally built their tunnels and hiding places below and intertwined with the residents of Gaza to increase the number of victims, and negatively impact Israel’s reputation? Of course. They use their people as human shields, which is explicitly prohibited under international law. When warned to leave by the IDF due to impending danger, Hamas kills their own people when they try to escape. The use of human shields is considered a violation of the Geneva Conventions and a war crime. Hamas doesn’t care about these conventions. They treat their people like a cheap commodity. They are a terrorist organization, why should we expect them to act humanely?

But who is being blamed? Only Israel, and what’s worse, they add the tag of genocide to their claim, with photos to prove it. Do I believe it is genocide? No, but once people see the destruction and dead babies, there is a natural emotional reaction, and people don’t feel the need to look further. Complexities be damned. Perhaps many think it would be disrespecting the victims.

These actions supply more fodder for the antisemites to peddle.

It’s dangerous for Jews to acknowledge their Jewish identities today through clothes and customs publicly. Attacks on Jews have become disturbingly routine, almost treated as sport.

If you attend Christmas services this year, how would you feel if you had policemen and security guards checking your purses similar to at checkpoints, or patrolling your hallways and parking lots? This is in the United States. All temples throughout the world have become fortresses due to threats of violence such as bomb threats. Their windows and doors have had to be replaced with bullet-proof glass so their children in Day school and Hebrew school are protected.

From January to November 2025, antisemitic incidents worldwide reached over 6,300 cases, averaging 18 per day, with violent attacks like the Bondi Beach Hanukah massacre in Australia (11 killed, ~30 wounded) marking one of the deadliest events. Reports confirm that antisemitism is at its highest level since the pre-Holocaust era.

Glimmers of Hope

Amid tragedy, there are moments of courage. During the Bondi assault, Ahmed al Ahmed, a Muslim man, tried to help Jews under fire, wresting the gun from the attacker, but he was injured. A fundraising page established by Australians who had never met him raised AU$2.3 million from 40,000 donors, including AU$99,000 from billionaire William Ackman, who is Jewish.

Hearing this example of heroic support and mutual respect, hopefully, will prompt the two sides’ combatants to pause and ponder the ramifications of pursuing such interactions, rather than the mutual violence we see on our nightly news.

Conclusion

If you are Jewish and celebrate Hanukah, I hope it was a joyful celebration. To our Christian friends, I hope Santa brings you lots of presents and that you find Peace in your religious observations. 2025 has been a rough year for many. Let’s hope 2026 is brighter.

May You Live in Peace, שלום and سلام. Amen.