At the time of Hanukkah, when we celebrate our right to express the Jewish religion openly, we need to be conscious of the rise of incidents in America which specifically seek to oppress and attack those for their identity and how they choose to express it.
In this ritual, for each night of Hanukkah, there is a description of a hate crime that has occurred since the 2016 presidential election as documented in the New York Times column “This Week in Hate.” There is also a discussion question to spark conversation about how to grapple with and respond to this moment in America, and to more deeply explore each of our own identities. Post a picture of your menorah on social media with the hashtags #rededicateagainsthate and #hanukkah5777 to show that the Jewish community is using this moment to stand up to the rise of hate in our society, and to show solidarity with other vulnerable groups. Invite others to join you in lighting the menorah and participating in these discussions.
Download the PDF below for the full discussion questions and more background, with advice for educators and parents. As you use this ritual each night of Hanukkah, we encourage you to consider the question: In this dark time, how will you create light in the world?
This PDF was created in partnership with Bend the Arc.
