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He's asking others to publicly show and post the glow of their menorahs. Of course, this couldn’t be further from the truth. With news of rising anti-Semtism in the U.S., the author first debated and then decided to put his menorah in the window. Why can we report our amazing stories of innovation in every area of society save for the way we treat those who are different than us? For too many years, we’ve reasoned that if the President living in the White House is black and so are CEOs and surgeons, then racial tension must have ended in our country. Just like science, medicine and technology, the way we treat each other should also be improving. News reports should be boasting of progress. I’m scared because I’m seeing race relations move quickly in retrograde motion and I’m angry because so many decades of progress appear to be for naught. I’m angry because I had imagined a brighter America for my young children as they grow older. I’m scared because it’s full of the darkness of distrust and racial disharmony. I look around me at the state of our country today and I’m scared and angry. That message is needed now more than ever. Why do so many of the world’s religions mark the darkest season with festivals of light? The kindling of fire brings much needed light into our lives and it also symbolizes hope. Additionally, the Zoroastrians celebrate the winter solstice with their holiday of Yalda. Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, was celebrated this past October by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs. The dedication to light as a metaphor during the cold, dark months is not even limited to only those observing Hanukkah, Christmas, or Kwanzaa. Streets are brighter during this winter holiday season as those celebrating Christmas light Advent candles and string bright, colorful lights atop their trees and houses. Like the lighting of the Hanukkah candles, the lighting of the Kwanzaa candle also seeks to bring light into a dark world. Each of these three religious holidays occurs around the winter solstice when the days are the shortest and our nights become darker earlier. Photo about candlelight, burning, menorah, candlestick, latticework, hope, faith, jewish - 169180388 Hanukkah Menorah With Burning Candles Outside Open Window With Metal Latticework. Hanukkah also known as the Festival of Lights is a Jewish festival commemorating the recovery of Jerusalem and subsequent rededication of the Second Temple. It is no coincidence that lights are a core component of Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa. For this reason, another name of Hanukkah is the “Festival of Lights” and Judaism is not the only religion seeking to bring light into this dark world. The warm glow of the menorah we place in our windows for all to see demonstrates our determination to bring much needed light into our communities despite the unrest among us. The increase of light is a beautiful metaphor not only for this dark time of year, but for these dark days in our nation. And I’m glad my ancestors ruled the way they did. The Jewish tradition of lighting Hanukkah candles follows the school of Hillel. LOS ANGELES (JTA) In the weeks before Hanukkah, with anticipation of the holiday brightly filling my mind, the darkening news of rising anti-Semitism in the U.S.
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