A Hanukkah Message from Dr. Jonathan Levy

December 16, 2024
18 Kislev, 5785

Dear TanenbaumCHAT Community,

I have never been to Israel for a Jewish holiday. I came close a few years ago, but the pandemic forced me to cancel my plans. The thought of witnessing so many Jews observing a holiday together—to the point that the entire country transforms—is something I truly hope to experience.

Hanukkah is one of the few Jewish holidays where there is actually an obligation of Pirsumei Nisa—publicizing the miracle. We want people to see the lights and know that the holiday is being celebrated. In recent years, we have seen enormous Hanukiot erected, some so large that they require skyjacks to light.

Here at home, we proudly place the Hanukiah in the window, so that it can be seen by those passing by. In Israel, there are boxes designed specifically for this purpose, to be kept outside the front door, where one can place their Hanukiah, making it even easier for all to see. The importance of publicizing the miracle of Hanukkah is so great that it has been addressed in Jewish law.

The Talmud (Bava Kama, 62B), discusses responsibility in a case where a camel passes a shop, and its load of straw accidentally catches fire from the shop owner's lamp. If the flame was inside the shop, the camel owner is responsible; if it was outside, the shopkeeper bears the liability. However, the exemption, as stated by Rabbi Yehuda, applies if the fire outside is from a Hanukkah lamp—the shopkeeper is exempt because the mitzvah of placing the Hanukiah outside is considered so significant that it overrides the usual rules of liability.

The mitzvah of publicizing the miracle and the Talmudic ruling shows just how central the message of Hanukkah is to our tradition—one that encourages us to proudly share our Jewish identity with the world.

The past 14 months have seen a dramatic rise in anti-Semitic acts around the world, but also an increase in Jewish pride. Many students now wear Jewish symbols, display Israeli flags, and speak openly about their Judaism. We’ve hosted numerous speakers who shared their personal experiences from October 7, and each has been met with the deepest respect, thoughtful questions, and appreciation from our students. Every day, we continue to nurture a love for Judaism within them.

The miracle of Hanukkah teaches us to be proud of who we are. May this Hanukkah bring about the release of our hostages, so that we may all celebrate proudly, together.

And God willing, I will have the privilege of spending this Hanukkah, in Israel.

Chag Hanukkah Sameach,

Dr. Jonathan Levy
Head of School