The Meaning of Chanukah: Reflections from Around the Jewish World

At the darkest time of year, Chanukah allows us to celebrate the miracle of light and the resilience of the Jewish people. In that spirit, we sat down with Jews from around the world — JDC volunteers, community members, and others — and asked for their thoughts on this joyful and important holiday.

Hannah Sabban

Age: 44

Location: Djerba, Tunisia

Title: Co-Principal of the JDC-supported Kanfei Yonah all-girls school

What do you like most about Chanukah? Do you have a favorite Chanukah memory?

Chanukah is unlike any other holiday. Its central mitzvah is not found in prayers or festive meals, but in lighting the candles. As we say, “We are not permitted to use them for light or warmth, only to look at them.”

When I gaze at the Chanukah lights, their glow warms my heart. They speak to us without words, filling us with hope and a deep connection to God. To me, they tell the story of thousands of years of Jewish history — of a people who have endured endless persecution, yet whose flame still burns and will never be extinguished.

I don’t have one particular Chanukah memory, but I especially love the evenings of the holiday — and most of all, the eighth night, when all the candles shine together. It fills my heart with joy.

This is a difficult time to be Jewish. As Jews around the world face immense challenges — like rising global antisemitism, the conflict in Ukraine, and the urgent needs in Israel — what lesson does Chanukah have to teach us? 

The past two years, following October 7, 2023, have not been easy. Antisemitism is rising, yet life continues. So many of our holidays remind us of moments when the Jewish people faced danger — and how God ultimately saved us.

I’d like to share a personal story. I remember the Shabbat after October 7 — our community was in shock and filled with fear. That Friday morning, I stopped my Shabbat preparations and recorded a 10- to 15-minute voice message to encourage and strengthen women here in Djerba. I reminded them that, as the Vehi Sheamda tells us each Passover, “In every generation they rise against us to destroy us, but the Holy One, blessed be God, saves us from their hands.”

I told them not to be afraid — the Guardian of the people of Israel still watches over us. I gave examples from the holidays that remind us of this truth. Afterward, I received many messages from women saying how much it had lifted their spirits and rekindled their light of hope. They returned to their Shabbat preparations, and from that moment, our community slowly regained its strength and resilience.

So many of our holidays remind us of moments when the Jewish people faced danger — and how God ultimately saved us.

The miracle of Chanukah is that a jar of oil meant to last one day lasted eight. What’s been the single greatest miracle in your life? 

In my life, I’ve faced many challenges — years of intense work and responsibility, often without regard for my physical or emotional limits. And yet, I see that I’ve succeeded beyond what seemed possible — with Divine assistance, even in the smallest details.

I believe that our time and abilities are not truly limited. When an opportunity for a mitzvah comes your way, take it — “Do not let it pass you by.” Act wholeheartedly, with pure intentions and without self-interest, and you will witness wonders.

Nichita Caterniuc

Age: 18

Location: Chișinău, Moldova

Title: Manager, JDC-supported Republican Volunteer Center (RVC)

What do you love most about Chanukah? Do you have a favorite Chanukah memory?

What I love most about Chanukah is its light — that special, warm, and living light that appears when you kindle the candles not just out of tradition, but out of meaning, memory, and connection with others. There is something deeply human about Chanukah: It teaches us to find joy in simple things, to hold on to hope even when it seems scarce, and to share that hope with those around us.

My favorite Chanukah memory is connected to a volunteer activity we organized at our center. On the eve of the holiday, together with other volunteers, we were making sufganiyot — frying, decorating, laughing, sharing stories, and imagining the smiles of those who would receive them. It may seem like a small thing — sufganiyot are basically just donuts — but in that shared effort, there was something truly unifying. We knew that these sweet treats would go to elderly people, our beneficiaries, for whom attention and human warmth often mean more than any gift.

Later, a friend and I visited one of these beneficiaries, an older man who lived alone. We lit Chanukah candles together, ate the donuts, and just talked. He told us about his youth and how Chanukah was celebrated long ago, and I could feel that for him this evening was more than just a visit from volunteers — it was a true miracle of human presence. For me, too, it became a very special moment, when I realized that the light of the Chanukah candles warms not only our homes, but our souls. 

This is a difficult time to be Jewish. As Jews around the world face immense challenges — like rising global antisemitism, the conflict in Ukraine, and the urgent needs in Israel — what lesson does Chanukah have to teach us? 

Chanukah teaches us that light always overcomes darkness, even when it seems too small to matter. In our time, when the world is filled with anxiety, fear, and pain, this lesson feels especially relevant. We cannot change everything at once, but we can light a small flame — a good deed, a word of support, an act of kindness — and that spark can illuminate the path for others.

Chanukah reminds us that a miracle is not always something sudden or supernatural. Sometimes a miracle is simply the faith that it’s worth lighting a single candle, even if it seems there’s not enough oil to last the night.

Chanukah teaches us that light always overcomes darkness, even when it seems too small to matter.

The miracle of Chanukah is that a jar of oil meant to last one day lasted eight. What’s been the single greatest miracle in your life? 

For me, a miracle is the moment when the good you once shared comes back to you in a new form, not because you expected it, but because the world is built in such a way that light, once kindled, keeps on burning.

At our JDC-supported KEDEM Jacobs Jewish Community Center (JCC), I’ve often witnessed how elderly people who once received help eventually begin to help others. At first, they simply say thank you, then they offer to contribute, and before long, they become true volunteers. They call their peers, visit those who feel lonely, and share what they themselves once received — attention, warmth, and care.

Every time I see someone who once needed help becoming a source of light for others, I realize that this is the real miracle. Not a flame that bursts out suddenly, but one that’s passed from hand to hand, from heart to heart and keeps on shining.

Victoria Trofimenko

Age: 40

Location: Karaganda, Kazakhstan

Title: Coordinator at the JDC-supported Hesed Miriam social service center

What do you love most about Chanukah? Do you have a favorite Chanukah memory?

For me, Chanukah is about more than lighting candles! Now is the time to come together, reflect and celebrate the values that unite us.

One of my favorite memories is when our teenage volunteers gathered with adult volunteers for a Chanukah celebration. We lit candles together and shared stories of all the good we had achieved. It was a beautiful moment of intergenerational connection, reminding us how meaningful our traditions are and how much we can achieve when we work as a community.

This is a difficult time to be Jewish. As Jews around the world face immense challenges — like rising global antisemitism, the conflict in Ukraine, and the urgent needs in Israel — what lesson does Chanukah have to teach us? 

In these difficult times, Chanukah reminds us of hope. The light of the menorah teaches us that even small efforts can make a difference and inspire others. For those of us in Karaganda, it means supporting each other, staying united and keeping our traditions alive and meaningful.

The miracle of Chanukah is that a jar of oil meant to last one day lasted eight. What’s been the single greatest miracle in your life?

The biggest miracle in my life is that our community has grown stronger each year. My daughter, who already volunteers at age 12 and embraces our traditions, gives me hope for the future. This proves that our light continues to shine for future generations.

Meir Berkovich

Age: 61

Location: Patish, Israel

Title: Participant, JDC’s Third-Age Service Program

What do you love most about Chanukah? Do you have a favorite Chanukah memory?

Chanukah is a holiday of light and of home. It’s a time for everyone, crossing sectors and differences. 

During Chanukah, my entire family gathers together, I am the father of eight and grandfather to 17 grandchildren. After 24 years of service in the police force, I retired — but not to rest. With my wife, I joined JDC’s Senior Year of National Service initiative, which showcases the personal and social potential of Israelis aged 55 and over. This program brings together older adults who choose to relocate to new communities, volunteer, and contribute their experience and life wisdom to strengthening social resilience across the country.

Through this initiative, I moved to Patish, a moshav in the South, and began volunteering in the Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council. There, I initiated a training program to raise awareness around issues of safety and protection, created connections between real needs on the ground and available volunteers, and became a central figure in strengthening the community during complex and significant times.

This is a difficult time to be Jewish. As Jews around the world face immense challenges — like rising global antisemitism, the conflict in Ukraine, and the urgent needs in Israel — what lesson does Chanukah have to teach us? 

Chanukah teaches us that even individuals and small groups can create change. People sometimes think they’re not enough, that they’re too small — but that’s not true. If they’re determined and willing to give of themselves, they can transform the world.

That’s exactly what’s happening here through JDC’s Senior Year of National Service initiative. People choose to act, to lead processes, to create work that can grow and expand and even become a national initiative. That’s what the JDC does for us — takes a small idea and turns it into something big. 

On Chanukah, I think of the Talmudic dispute between Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai, about whether to add or remove candles each night of Chanukah. I personally follow Beit Hillel, lighting a new candle each day. But Beit Shammai’s view also has beauty — each day you make space for someone else to light their candle. 

It’s not that the light decreases — it’s that you make room for the work of others.

Chanukah teaches us that even individuals and small groups can create change — if they’re determined and willing to give of themselves, they can transform the world.

Maybe our role through JDC is to be the shamash. The shamash lights the other candles but does not shine for itself. We’re here to enable others to shine — to see their light and help release it.

The value of our work is measured by how much we helped others shine — a flame that will continue even when we’ve finished the program. 

The miracle of Chanukah is that a jar of oil meant to last one day lasted eight. What’s been the single greatest miracle in your life? 

I don’t know if there’s one miracle I could point to. Our life here is full of miracles. There are so many layers to it — personal, national, social.

If you look at a miracle not as sudden divine intervention, but as a combination of guidance and circumstance, then JDC’s service program is exactly that kind of miracle. It’s a miracle of action, of connection, of a blessing that happened at exactly the right moment.

In Hebrew, the word for “miracle” — nes — also means “flag.” And over the past two years, all of us here in Israel have had many miraculous things worthy of being raised up on a banner — people’s initiatives, citizens stepping up, entire communities mobilizing.

Here in Israel, Chanukah unites us all. 

Rachel Meyerowitz

Age: 23

Location: Budapest, Hungary

Title: 2025 JDC Entwine Global Jewish Service Corps (JSC) Fellow

What do you love most about Chanukah? Do you have a favorite Chanukah memory?

What I love most about Chanukah is its eight-night rhythm—long enough to slow down, to celebrate, and to share pieces of my Jewish world with the many people in my life. I am fortunate to have always had a strong Jewish community around me, but that community took on new meaning upon leaving Jewish day school and attending an all-girls Anglican high school. 

Suddenly, my Jewish identity was something that made me different and something I wanted to express. I proudly wore my battery-powered Chanukah sweater on the annual Christmas sweater day. I am grateful to my family for always encouraging me to welcome others into my Jewish world, to share our traditions, answer questions, and ask many of my own.

This spirit of curiosity and connection is what led me to my current position as a JSC Fellow in Budapest, Hungary. Here, I am a part of several overlapping communities: Hungarian Jews and non-Jews, Israelis living in Budapest, and a diverse group of young expats. I am excited to celebrate Chanukah the Hungarian, Israeli, and Canadian ways, and to introduce some friends to latkes for the first time.

This is a difficult time to be Jewish. As Jews around the world face immensechallenges — like rising global antisemitism, the conflict in Ukraine, and the urgentneeds in Israel — what lesson does Chanukah have to teach us?

I’m celebrating my second Chanukah in Budapest this year and feel privileged to have found a home in this community. During Chanukah, we remember the Maccabees who liberated the Temple and ensured that Jewish life would continue. We celebrate the renewal and continuation of the Jewish people despite near destruction.

As Global Engagements Coordinator at the JDC-supported JCC Budapest-Bálint Ház, part of my role includes sharing the story of Budapest’s Jewish community with supporters and visitors from around the world. I am constantly reinspired by the Hungarian Jewish experience: Here, Jewish identity was nearly erased by the Holocaust and suppressed by decades of communism. 

Since the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989, there has been a need to recreate Jewish life and rediscover Jewish identity. More than 30 years later, Jewish life in Hungary is not to be taken for granted. Rediscovery continues as Jewish traditions are often not inherited but actively chosen.  That choice, made daily by so many in this community, is what makes Jewish life in Budapest feel so alive. Like the tiny jar of oil we celebrate on Chanukah, Jewish life in Hungary has endured far beyond what anyone could have imagined.

Both Chanukah and the Hungarian Jewish community demonstrate what it means to insist on life and progress even in the shadow of immense darkness. I will continue to deepen my Jewish identity, discover our Jewish world, and celebrate our differences, all while my Chanukiah casts light from the windowsill.

Both Chanukah and the Hungarian Jewish community what it means to insist on life and progress even in the shadow of immense darkness.

The miracle of Chanukah is that a jar of oil meant to last one day lasted eight. What’sbeen the single greatest miracle in your life?

The greatest miracles in my life happened before I was born. My family on both sides left what they knew in search of a better life for their children, and their children’s children. 

My maternal Zaidy’s parents fled their home in Chelm, Poland, in 1939, and my Zaidy was born not long after in 1941. Always one step ahead of the Nazis, they survived the Holocaust and arrived in Canada in 1948. My paternal grandparents and their three sons, my dad being the youngest, left their home in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1975, knowing that apartheid could not provide the kind of future they wanted for their family.

I won the “parent lottery” and was raised in an incredibly close and loving family in Toronto. I can never repay my parents for providing me with opportunities to see the world and figure out my place in it. That journey brought me somewhere I never expected — Budapest. Here, community members’ stories of resilience, choice, and meaning are helping me to understand that being Jewish is not something to be assumed — it is something to be embraced. I feel incredibly lucky to learn from this community firsthand, but I believe these narratives will move and inspire you too. 

My new podcast, Something in the Water, tells the story of Budapest’s Jewish community through interviews with the individuals who shape it. These conversations provide an opportunity to learn from a community that has rebuilt itself from near annihilation, and deepens our understanding of what it means to live a Jewish life. I am grateful for the generations of strength that come before me, my own family and the community I have joined. This is the miracle that brought me here, shaped me, and guides me forward.

Morgan Helfman

Age: 30

Location: New York City

Title: 2025 JDC Entwine Community Representative

What do you love most about Chanukah? Do you have a favorite Chanukah memory?

I love that Chanukah is almost entirely devoted to celebrating Jewish joy. I love the decorations, dressing up in blue and white, and sharing latkes with friends, Jewish and non-Jewish alike. 

My favorite Chanukah memory is the “Chanukah box” my grandpa sent me and my brothers each year — a brown package filled with presents, gelt, and holiday decorations. We’d gather round to open it and marvel at everything inside. While most presents would be placed by the fireplace, the Chanukah box was always a special, joyful surprise.

This is a difficult time to be Jewish. As Jews around the world face immense challenges — like rising global antisemitism, the conflict in Ukraine, and the urgent needs in Israel — what lesson does Chanukah have to teach us?

The shamash, the single helper candle that lights all the other Chanukah candles, stands separated or elevated from the other candles, not for honor but for service. Its entire purpose is to kindle light in others. The shamash reminds us that when we share our light — our strength, our knowledge, our compassion — we don’t lose anything. The shamash burns just as steadily night after night, even after it’s used to light all eight candles. If anything, the world around the shamash becomes warmer and brighter.

In a moment when so many people are searching for hope, the shamash calls on us to be the ones who spark it. To lift up those who feel dimmed by fear or uncertainty. To recognize that our light is most powerful when it ignites light in someone else. The shamash shows us that being “a light unto others” is a daily choice for the Jewish people, a decision to serve, guide, and help create a space where everyone has the chance to shine. 

The shamash reminds us that when we share our light — our strength, our knowledge, our compassion — we don’t lose anything.

The miracle of Chanukah is that a jar of oil meant to last one day lasted eight. What’s been the single greatest miracle in your life?

The blessing of my life is that I was raised Jewish. Growing up in the Jewish community — and choosing it every day, has given my life deep meaning. It has connected me to communities dedicated to repairing the world and to some of the most remarkable people. The fact that cthe Jewish people have persisted and survived for millennia so that I can stand here today and continue this legacy is nothing short of miraculous. 

Marcos Perelmuter

Age: 44

Location: Porto Alegre, Brazil

Title: Rabbi, Centro Israelita 

What do you like most about Chanukah? Do you have a favorite Chanukah memory?

My favorite thing about Chanukah is that it’s a reminder that the true miracle is the one we create together — a partnership between humanity and God. In the Chanukah narrative, we encounter the miracle of the oil that lasted eight days, but also the heroism of the Maccabees. This brings to mind our modern history and the creation of the State of Israel. Perhaps, hundreds of years from now, the founding of the State of Israel will be taught as a miracle, just as regaining autonomy during the struggle of the Maccabees is remembered today.

This is a difficult moment to be Jewish. As Jews around the world face enormous challenges — such as rising global antisemitism and urgent needs in Israel — what lesson does Chanukah offer us?

I believe that Chanukah teaches us to remain steadfast in our customs and traditions — that there have always been nations that sought to make us disappear, and yet we continue to stand strong, more resilient than ever.

The miracle of Chanukah is that a small jar of oil meant to last one day lasted eight. What has been the greatest miracle in your life?

The greatest miracle in my life was undoubtedly the birth of my twin children — the joy of being a parent and of being loved by them.

Michelle Dalma

Age: 31

Location: Mexico City

Title: Fundraising & Development Director, Universidad Hebraica Mexico

What do you like most about Chanukah? Do you have a favorite Chanukah memory?

What I like most about Chanukah is the constant reminder of light — the small spark that cuts through the darkness and creates a different kind of space, softer and warmer. There’s something almost magical about how such a tiny flame can transform the atmosphere and your mood. And being able to light the candles with family or friends makes it even more special.

One of my favorite memories is from when I was a child. For as long as I can remember, every year we spent the end of December in Acapulco, at my grandparents’ beach house. Many members of my family live in different cities, so December was (and still is) the only moment when we’re all together. A few days each year when more than 20 of us gather to close out the year, reconnect, enjoy each other’s company, and simply be.

But what I loved most was when those vacations coincided with Chanukah and we could light the candles all together — cousins, aunts and uncles, parents, siblings, and grandparents, lighting the candles after dinner.

I remember perfectly the feeling of spending the whole day in the ocean, the pool, and the sun, then coming back to shower while my hair still smelled a bit like salt. Walking out to the terrace at night and seeing the dark sea lit by the moon, the lighthouses, and the stars. That warm breeze, the sound of the waves in the background, and all of us lighting each candle, singing, laughing, and sharing a moment that always felt special.

Then came the gift exchange, and staying up late playing with my cousins while we watched the candles melt slowly and the bay breeze moved the flames— sometimes quite violently, but never quite managing to blow them out.

For me, that blend of light in the darkness, the ocean that always fills me with freedom and calm, and the immense blessing of sharing all of that with so many loved ones — that is the essence of Chanukah.

This is a difficult moment to be Jewish. As Jews around the world face enormous challenges—such as rising global antisemitism and urgent needs in Israel—what lesson does Chanukah offer us?

In such a difficult moment to be Jewish, Chanukah reminds us that our strength has always been rooted in the history and memory we share as a people. The tradition of lighting the candles — passed down generation after generation in every corner of the world — sustains a common narrative that transcends geography, language, customs, and the many ways we live our Judaism. It reminds us that even in our diversity, we belong to something bigger than ourselves.

The story of Chanukah — the miracle of a small light lasting far longer than expected — speaks precisely to this. It is a story of resilience, continuity, and the ability of an entire people to rebuild itself through its traditions. In times of antisemitism, hatred, and polarization — even among ourselves — Chanukah invites us to embrace our diversity and turn it into strength: to reconnect with a shared narrative that honors all our voices and helps us move forward. Just as Chanukah candles have illuminated the way for centuries, we too can build a common light that guides us toward the future as one people.

Just as Chanukah candles have illuminated the way for centuries, we too can build a common light that guides us toward the future as one people.

The miracle of Chanukah is that a small jar of oil meant to last one day lasted eight. What has been the greatest miracle in your life?

I like to think miracles happen when we put all our intention, effort, energy, and care into making things happen. The greatest and most important miracle for me is simply being surrounded by my family, my friends, and the people I love; working in education and community-building through innovative initiatives; and being able to do so many things that bring me peace, purpose, and joy.

If I had to highlight one experience from this past year, it would be fulfilling a dream I’ve carried with me for a very long time — one that even surpassed all my expectations. Since I was very young, I’ve loved the ocean, its mystery and richness. I learned to swim at a very early age, to play in the waves, later to dive, and more recently to practice freediving — all with the same goal: to be able to swim with manta rays and dolphins, and experience the ocean in the most authentic and liberating way possible.

I tried many times, in different countries, but hadn’t been lucky enough to find them. Until this year. After much planning, saving, and — above all — a bit of luck, I lived one of the most indescribable and fulfilling moments of my life. I spent days surrounded by these animals, marveling at the ocean and nature, absorbing that peace, freedom, and tranquility. Day after day, there were countless moments when I couldn’t believe what I was experiencing was real. Moments that reminded me that this is why we’re here: to live, enjoy, share, and cherish what truly fills our souls.

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