As we mark Hanukkah together as a JCC community, I wanted to share these powerful reflections from Rabbi Scott Roland of Congregation Shaarey Tikvah in Beachwood, Ohio, which speak so deeply to this moment and to the enduring meaning of the Festival of Lights:
“Our history teaches us that light is not born in comfort or safety, but precisely in moments like this, when darkness feels overwhelming and fear threatens to define us. We light our candles not because the night is gentle, but because it is not. Each flame is an act of defiance, memory, and hope. Chanukah reminds us that the few can overcome the many, that light can prevail over darkness, and that truth ultimately outlasts falsehood. May the lights we kindle this Chanukah honor the souls we have lost, strengthen those who are afraid, and remind us that our people endure, stubborn, sacred, and unextinguished.”
As we turn to the end of the holiday and our menorahs burn brighter with each candle added, may the images below capture how light lives at the JCC – through the joy of children, families and friends gathering in community, and moments of learning, caring, and connection across generations. Throughout Hanukkah, and throughout the year, the JCC strives to be a place where light is kindled and shared through resilience and the simple but powerful act of showing up for one another.
May we all commit to carrying the light forward beyond just the eight nights of Hanukkah and into all the days ahead.
Wishing you and your families a Shabbat shalom and chag Hanukkah sameach,
Jason
Be sure to join us on the evening of January 14 at the Homewood-Brushton YMCA as we spread the light with our partners at the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh for our first Curious Conversation: Growing Love in a Loud World. John Wallace, University of Pittsburgh Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement and Leadership Development, and Kathleen Blee, University of Pittsburgh Distinguished Professor of Sociology will explore what shapes both love and hate, from the forces that can pull people toward division and extremism, to the actions, relationships, and shared values that help empathy, care, and trust take root. Click HERE to register.
