On the evening of Sunday, December 14, in sub-zero temperatures, our community gathered for the annual menorah lighting.
on the lawn in front of Wilmette Village Hall.
The cold was enough to keep most families indoors. And after the brutal attack in Sydney, many Jewish parents felt a quiet sense of fear. An outdoor public event at night seemed risky. No one would blame anyone for choosing to stay inside.
And yet our Jewish community came out in record numbers.
Families packed their children in layers. The teenagers appeared with red cheeks and frostbitten fingers. Elderly couples stood together in the wind. People came not because it was convenient or safe, but because something in their hearts told them they needed to be there.
I was approached by a man named Ben, and although I was Jewish, I had never met him before. He arrived early and I told him it was time for him to go home and warm up with his family. He shook his head and said, “I should be here.” It was definitely not comfort that brought him here. It was a conviction. Sometimes the soul speaks clearer than the mind.
According to Jewish tradition, the Hanukkah menorah is placed near a window or door and lit at night. Its purpose is to shine outward, to bring light to places where darkness is felt most strongly.
This year's gathering took courage as many Jewish families weighed security issues as they would have liked.
never imagined. But the menorah teaches that hiding who we are will never protect us. Jewish life survives when lived with confidence and clarity.
This is why the Lubavitcher Rebbe started a public menorah campaign. He understood that Jewish life becomes stronger when its light comes out. When Jews withdraw into themselves, Jewish life does not become safer. The light of community is stronger when it is lived openly and proudly.
That Sunday I saw this message come to life.
Thank you to the neighbors, allies, police and local officials who supported us. Your support made a difference. When the village stands together, even the loneliest night seems bright.
Rabbi Moshe Teldon
Chabad of Wilmette
