HAPPY CHANUKAH? DAMN RIGHT! December 19, 2025

After last Sunday’s ISIS-inspired shootings at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, two non-Jewish friends asked if it was okay to wish me “Happy Chanukah.” The title of this post gives you my answer. 

When the Jewish world lost fifteen souls with dozens more wounded, I was shocked but not surprised. Why? Jews around the world aren’t strangers to such attacks. In 2018, a white American shot and killed 11 Jews at a synagogue in Pittsburgh. Six months later, a shooter killed a woman at a synagogue in suburban San Diego.

In the United States, antisemitic incidents have risen rise for years, starting well before October 7, 2023 when Hamas slaughtered 1,250 innocent Israelis and non-Israelis—and anti-Israel antisemites blamed Israel. 

According to congress.gov (4-22-25), in 2024, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) “tabulated 9,354 antisemitic incidents across the United States. This represents a 5% increase from the 8,873 incidents recorded in 2023, a 344% increase over the past five years and a 893% increase over the past 10 years. It is the highest number on record since ADL began tracking antisemitic incidents 46 years ago.”

What will the 2025 numbers look like?

How should Diaspora Jews react to the attack at Bondi Beach? The way our brothers and sisters do in Israel—stand up and be counted. I’m not talking about responding with violence. Against who? I’m talking about doing what many Jewish leaders have advised and rightly so: Live Jewish lives and don’t shrink from being who we are.

That’s certainly my philosophy. This year as in years past, Carolyn and I display our electric menorah in our living room window. (We’ll light six candles in our kitchen tonight.) The drapes are open. Anyone outside can see that we’re celebrating Chanukah. But, celebrating what exactly?

Around 162 BCE, the Jews of Judea, ruled by the Seleucid Greeks, fought back and re-took the Second Temple in Jerusalem. The Greeks had defiled the Temple, the holiest site in the Jewish world. The Temple was cleaned and purified. But to rededicate the Temple—Chanukah means dedication—oil was needed for the seven-branch menorah. (The Chanukah menorah is actually a chanukiah with nine candles—eight for the eight nights of the holiday and a ninth with which to light them.)

Only one night’s worth of oil was found. Miraculously, that oil burned for eight nights. Thus we celebrate the Festival of Lights.

But there’s more to it. Many modern scholars believe that the oil story was created by the Rabbis several centuries later. The beating heart of Chanukah is a military victory that upheld Jews’ right to be Jews. The rebels, led by the Maccabees, had no desire to force the Greeks or anyone else to convert to Judaism. 

When Rome later ruled Judea, the Rabbis feared Roman anger at their subjects celebrating a past military victory. The Rabbis came up with another rationale for Chanukah. 

I love both!

Short answer to a long story: Feel free to wish Jews everywhere “Happy Chanukah.” We will not hide. We’ve come too far for that. The best defense against terrorists who attempt to sow fear is to refuse to be afraid.

May the lights of Chanukah inspire everyone, whatever their faith tradition—or choice not to have one—to approach all humanity with understanding and respect. 

The post will take a winter break for two weeks and return on Friday, January 9. 

Order my new novel RIDE THE TYGER—great Holiday gift!—from Amazon, barnesandnoble.com, iuniverse.com, or from your favorite bookstore.