Reflection on Hanukkah

by Ali Viterbi, Associate Producer of the Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival

The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah is also known as the Festival of Lights. Each winter, Jews all over the world commemorate the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem by lighting candles for eight nights. It's no coincidence that this festive eight-day celebration falls during the darkest, coldest season of the year. The Hanukkah story is all about fighting darkness. It's about bringing light, joy, and warmth to our homes and communities each year.

As we'll be unable to celebrate with our communities this year, we need a little light now more than ever. In Jewish tradition, women throughout the centuries have been considered the "keepers of the light." In our Women of Valor program each spring, we share stories of women who are lights in our community. So to kick off the Festival of Lights, we went back to the Women of Valor archive and selected the story of one of our incredible past honorees, Julia Ramirez Stone. She was first honored by the Jewish Arts Festival in 2012, but we are "rededicating" her story this year and sharing it all with you on video.

Julia's story, as well as appearances from past Women of Valor Karen Parry, Edna Yedid, Claire Ellman, and Tammy Gillies, will premiere on December 10 at 7pm, the first night of Hanukkah.

We hope this video helps us all seek the light even during this dark winter.

Hag Sameach!