A Light in the Dark

Hanukkah is a topsy-turvy holiday that often seems more commercial than spiritual, more exciting to children than adults, growing in importance the closer it is to Christmas. Its central beauty often gets lost in December’s excesses, its message of fierce self-determination at odds with the benign fuzziness of Yuletide wishes.

But during this dark time of war and economic uncertainty, the sheer joy of this holiday is more welcome than ever. So go ahead: Eat another latke. Treat someone to a sweet gift. And relish the steady escalation of hope that embraces us each day another candle is lit. A freylekhn khanike! Hanukkah sameach!

The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Forward. Discover more perspectives in Opinion. To contact Opinion authors, email [email protected].

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