Daily Herald opinion: Hanukkah's celebration of light shines through in dark times

On Sunday, Jews around the world began an eight-day celebration of light amid the darkness of a deeply disturbing rise in antisemitism.

Hanukkah this December caps a year filled with violence, vandalism and hateful rhetoric aimed at Jews across the country - and here in the suburbs. Less than two weeks ago, a Naperville man was charged with committing a hate crime, accused of putting swastika stickers on campaign signs. Add that to last month's vandalism of a Jewish cemetery in Waukegan and highly publicized comments by rapper Kanye West and others, and it can be a scary time to celebrate publicly.

Yet, Jewish leaders say that is exactly what is needed.

"The story of Hanukkah is about fearlessness and faith and bringing light into dark times," Lisa Bellows, rabbi of Congregation Beth Am in Buffalo Grove, told our Steve Zalusky.

The light is sorely needed.

The Anti-Defamation League last spring reported that antisemitic incidents across the nation reached an all-time high in 2021 since the organization began tracking attacks in 1979. A total of 2,717 incidents - assault, harassment and vandalism - made for a 34% increase over the year before.

In many cases, the vandalism included swastikas - a symbol of hatred and a vile reminder that 6 million Jews were slaughtered during the Holocaust.

During Hanukkah this year, the ADL is promoting a campaign called Shine a Light, which draws on the holiday's history to raise awareness of antisemitism through community partnerships and workforce engagement. The campaign encourages people to share #ShineALight on antisemitism on social media and for businesses to create inclusive workplaces.

It's a start, but there is more work to do. Those of other faiths can help by calling out antisemitism and other forms of bigotry when they see it. A day spent taking in the somber exhibits at the powerful and important Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center in Skokie shows where hatred - and a failure to fight it - can lead.

As Zalusky pointed out in an article that ran Sunday, one of those exhibits includes a photo from 1932 Germany. The photo captures a menorah on a window sill. Behind it, you can see a Nazi banner on a building across the street.

Hanukkah celebrates the victory of the Jewish Maccabees over their oppressors. When they reclaimed and rededicated the Holy Temple, they lit the menorah with oil expected to last one day. Instead, it burned for eight.

Thus, Hanukkah is a celebration of miracles, of faith and of light - themes that echo through a number of the world's religions.

At this festive time of year, may we all work toward the triumph of light over darkness and wish for harmony in the new year.