Rabbi Nachi Friedman’s Chanukah Message for 2024

Chanukkah: Our Public Display of Judaism

Like every televised post-game interview with the team MVP, many areas of public life require the balance between displaying success and remaining humble. A winning quarterback praises his teammates despite knowing his throws won the game. On job interviews we want to present competent and smart while not appearing (too) haughty. Even in regular conversations we must balance these extremes as an uneven and lopsided approach is off-putting socially.

The same is true for mitzvot (commandments) and Jewish life. Our sukka cannot be too big or too little. Our charity should not exceed a fifth of our income or give less than a tenth. The Rabbis tell us we need to learn from everyone despite one’s own intellect, acclimates and dexterity with learning (Mishna Avos). We ideally need to perform the commandments and live a Jewish life like the MVP, balancing public displays of commandments and humility.

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Chanukah is a rare mitzvah where we are commanded to publicly, proudly and openly perform a mitzvah in its best way possible. We specifically light our candles when everyone can see us and boldly in our windows. While we should never feel ashamed to perform any commandment, there is no requirement to make our actions known, seen and specifically in the public eye. Why is Chanukah so unique?

One way we can approach the holiday of Chanukah is by focusing on what it is not. Most holidays follow the following Jewish formula: We sinned, we were punished and in danger of extinction, we prayed and we were saved. Chanukah is the only holiday where we were not in danger! In fact, we were safe as long as we listened to the Greek rules and regulations at that time. Rid of public displays of religion and abide by Hellenistic rule and stay safe.

Perhaps the message of Chanuka is the importance of unwavering and uncompromising in our belief. When it comes to the protection of our Jewish life, we cannot accept anything less than full autonomy to do and perform our commandments. In the face of antisemitism, we must fight against any sign of hatred and lack of support. Chanukah publicly calls to action an unrestricted display of commandments to show the world that we will not hide or appear ashamed of our religion.

A very moving exhibit can be found in the World Holocaust Remembrance Center (Yaad Vashem). The exhibit includes a photograph from Kiel Germany from 1931 of Rabbi Akiva Baruch Posner’s Chanukah menorah. What is unique about this picture is that the Menorah is lit by the window of their house which looks out onto a building with a large Nazi banner. The exhibit’s caption writes “Judea Dies,’ thus saith the banner. ‘Judea will live forever,’ thus responds the light.”

Our Chanuka mitzvah is to proudly carry the torch. Anti Semitism is not a new concept and will not extinguish our flame. We celebrate the mitzvah of Chanukah in Atlanta and will not restrict our “post-game mitzah talk” with humility but flamboyantly display our allegiance to G-d. May we continue to light our candles and our souls with fire so we can continue to act Jewish, live Jewish, and proudly display our Judaism.

Rabbi Nachi Friedman is the Rabbi at Congregation Anshi Sfard and the school counselor at TDSA.