Last night, the Portland Trailblazers had their annual Chanukah "Celebration of Lights" game. Over 400 people enjoyed a pre-game Chanukah party and chanukiyah lighting. Thank you to the team and the Jewish organizational partners, including multiple Chabads, for making this possible.

Following the game (an overtime win), Deni Avdija (who made the two game winning free throws with 1.5 seconds left), Israeli-born and the team's leading player, came out to greet the group. He is having an incredible season and we hope you cast your vote to put him in the All-Star game! It is special to have an Israeli trailblazer and future all-star on the home team!

"What the world has seen over the past two years is a continual, often systematic attempt to terrorize Jews. Lately, the pretense that calling for universal intifada or the erasure of the Jewish state somehow constitutes normative criticism of particular Israeli policies has largely been dropped, at least by emboldened "protesters" whose venomous rhetoric goes far beyond the bounds of political discourse. When political leaders fail to condemn rather than merely 'discourage' chants of 'Globalize the intifada' -- we are seeding the ground for Bondi."

Rabbi David Wolpe and Amb. Deborah Lipstadt

Sunday marks the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. It also marks the conclusion of Chanukah, the moment when our chanukiyah is fully illuminated.

This contrast between light and darkness has always been at the heart of our tradition. But this year, the darkness feels particularly heavy. For many, Chanukah is fun -- gift-giving, latkes, and a story about oil lasting eight days. In reality, Chanukah is much more -- it is a story of Jewish survival.

Last week, I wrote about the commandment of Pirsumei Nisa -- publicizing the miracle. Jewish tradition asks us not to hide our light, but to make it visible to all. It is a proud declaration of identity. We must do it – despite these difficult times and the heartbreaking news from Bondi Beach. The shootings there sent shockwaves through Jewish communities not just "down under," but across the globe, including here in Greater Portland.

For decades, we told ourselves that antisemitism was diminishing, a dying remnant of the past. It would naturally fade away as older, less tolerant generations passed on and a new generation took hold. But the data tells us that this assumption is wrong.

I read an excellent piece by Yair Rosenberg in The Atlantic that analyzed recent polling data, and the results are deeply concerning. David Shor, a Democratic data scientist, surveyed nearly 130,000 voters in 2024. He found that 25% of those under age 25 held an “unfavorable opinion” of “Jewish people.” Please note the specific language here. The question did not ask about "Israelis" or "Zionists" or even policies of the Israeli government. It asked about Jews.

A Yale Youth Poll (scroll 2/3 down) uncovered a similar, alarming trend. When asked if Jewish people have a negative impact on the United States, 18% of 18-22-year-olds said yes, compared to just 8% of the general population. When asked if Jews have "too much power," 27% of young people agreed. That figure is more than double that of Americans over 65.

Think about that for a moment. The younger demographic is seemingly the most susceptible to the world’s oldest hatred.

Why is this happening? One reason is how we consume information. Older generations still largely rely on legacy media. Young people, however, view the world through social media platforms where algorithms prize engagement over accuracy. These platforms guide users from standard political content toward conspiracy theories and hate.

An entire generation is now getting their history lessons from 60-second clips designed to enrage, not inform. The hateful become loud and the algorithms amplify their volume. And what should we expect when millions of young minds hear conspiracies about "Jews" – of course, that hatred can spill over into the streets.

As others have said, "On October 9, 2023, protesters marched in front of the Sydney Opera House chanting, 'Where are the Jews?' On the first night of Chanukah 2025, they found them on Bondi Beach."

We are seeing a phenomenon of “Jews being sent back into hiding” as described by Rabbi David Wolpe and Amb. Deborah Lipstadt in this excellent essay. They share that we have heard the chants repeatedly over the last two years: "Globalize the intifada." We should not be naive about what this means. It is a call for for targeting of Jews everywhere. Even recently, outside a synagogue protesters yelled, "Make them scared."

They also write about a prominent American rabbi entering a Target store with her 10-year-old grandson. As they walked in, the boy automatically took off his kippah and put it in his pocket. When his grandmother (the rabbi) looked at him, he simply said, "Mommy wants me to do that."

It breaks my heart that our children are absorbing this type of mixed message -- being Jewish is joyous, but also dangerous.

On this day in 1843, Charles Dickens published his classic story, A Christmas Carol. Dickens was no fan of the Jews. In fact, in Oliver Twist, Dickens gave us Fagin, a grotesque character with a hooked nose, described as greedy, and called "the Jew" nearly 300 times. For decades, Dickens’ book poisoned minds.

In 1863, Eliza Davis, a Jewish woman, wrote Dickens and told him he encouraged "a vile prejudice" against her people. Unlike most, Dickens did not double down. He listened. He actually edited “the Jew” out of later printings of Oliver Twist and in his final novel, Our Mutual Friend, he created Mr. Riah, a gentle, good-hearted Jewish character designed to counter the damage Fagin had done.

Antisemitism remains with us. It appeared in Victorian literature and today it appears in viral videos. But history also proves it can be stopped when people -- like Eliza Davis and YOU -- refuse to let it stand. We cannot be indifferent or silent!

This brings me back to the Chanukah lights. In the darkest moments, we shine the light. We publicize the miracle. In a world that is increasingly hostile to Jewish identity, whether in data charts, on social media, or the streets of Australia, the simple act of being proud, visible, and unafraid are the most powerful tools we have.

May your light shine most bright this weekend.

Shabbat Shalom, chodesh tov (for Rosh Chodesh Tevet – the new month), and happy Chanukah. It is an infrequent occurrence on the Jewish calendar when these three coincide.