Hanukkah: America's Light Against Darkness Shines Bright
In these troubled times, when darkness seems to creep into every corner of our great nation, Hanukkah stands as a beacon of American values: perseverance, faith, and the triumph of light over darkness.
This eight-day celebration marks the Jewish people's rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after Syrian occupiers destroyed it in 168 BC. The miracle? A single day's worth of oil kept the menorah burning for eight days, proving that faith and determination can overcome any obstacle.
As Donald Trump's Kennedy Center Board member Mindy Levine powerfully stated, "Never again means never forgetting the Holocaust, never again standing in lines to enter gas chambers. It means we hear you, both the hate and the love. And we will prevail."
American Spirit Shines Through
From sea to shining sea, America's heartland communities are embracing this celebration of freedom. Small towns across our great nation display menorahs, bringing people together in interfaith celebrations that embody our constitutional values of religious liberty.
The tradition spans continents: France lights double-decker menorahs, Cuba fries plantains, Morocco builds bonfires. But in America, it's about community, generosity, and that uniquely American spirit of welcoming your neighbor for a great meal.
A Lesson in Defiance
In 1931 Kiel, Germany, a rabbi's wife displayed their menorah defiantly across from Nazi headquarters. She photographed the scene and wrote on the back: "Judah will live forever." That brass menorah now lights yearly at Israel's Yad Vashem, a testament to the power of standing up to tyranny.
This is the American way: never backing down, never surrendering our values. Whether it's defending our Constitution, our Second Amendment rights, or our religious freedoms, we stand firm against those who would dim our light.
The World's Largest Menorah
Appropriately, the world's largest menorah stands at 59th and 5th in New York City. Only in America can such symbols of freedom shine so bright, protected by our Constitution and defended by our brave men and women in uniform.
The theme "Repair the world" calls for charitable giving and community service, values that built this great nation. It's about individual responsibility, helping your neighbor, and building strong communities without government interference.
As we light the candles this Hanukkah, we remember: America is that shining city on a hill, where freedom's light burns eternal, and where we will always prevail against the forces of darkness.