A Hanukkah Card for my friends

December 14, 2025

By David Fuks

Hanukkah was always a sweet and easygoing holiday for me. My mother cooked sugary latkes. My father provided a bit of small change and some chocolates to support the simple game of chance, spinning a Dreidel. All are fond traditions that my family passed on over the years.

“It’s a minor holiday,” I would share. “Its importance grew out of a desire, as an American, to share the winter holiday season with Christian friends.”

It was a pleasure to recount the victory of the Maccabees over the Greek Empire; to share the rededication of our Holy Temple and to celebrate the small miracle of the oil as the rededication took place. It was always great fun.

There is a sense of sadness this year as Jews across the world grieve at an act of hatred committed by an evil father and son at Bondi Beach in Australia. The murder of sixteen and the wounding of dozens during a celebration is heartbreaking.

Sadly, it is not a surprise. Antisemitism continues to find a home among those who are open to, or are immersed in hatred. We’ve walked down this path before. The first night of a sweet holiday has been darkened by senseless hatred. We will grieve and we will be resilient. On this night we will light one candle. But, as our candle lighting grows each night until we can celebrate in brightness, this year’s chocolates will be bittersweet.

We know what rededication means to us today. Our temples are our homes, our communities, our congregations, our friends and our loved ones. We will celebrate with our families. We will celebrate with our friends. We will celebrate with love for Jews around the world.

Every human being is a world. And, we will share this rededication to those who have faced loss resulting from senseless hatred. We will express our compassion. We will have the audacity to stand up and survive. We will seek to use our rededication to build bridges with ALL.