12/14/2025
Ny heart is truly broken and it’s hard to find the words to say. I’m a Jewish firefighter in the United States.
I’m a father of four and educator.
Every day, I go to work to help others and teach others how to save lives, all lives, without asking who someone is, where they come from, or what they believe.
So when I see images and reports from Australia of Jews targeted on the first night of Hanukkah, simply for gathering in peace it hits me in a deeply personal way.
I think about my children.
I think about teaching them to be proud of who they are, while also teaching them to love others, to serve others, and to stand up for humanity.
I think about how, as a parent, all I want is for my kids to grow up in a world where lighting Hanukkah candles is not an act of courage but a simple act of joy and our tradition as a Jewish family.
Hanukkah is all about light. In this world there is a lot of evil and darkness but we must remember that to rid the darkness all we need is even a little light.
As Jews, we have learned that darkness doesn’t disappear overnight. As first responders, we know the same is true in crisis. You don’t fix everything at once—you stabilize, you care, and you keep going.
That’s what being Jewish means to me.
It means choosing compassion even when it’s hard.
It means educating instead of hating.
It means running toward people in their worst moments and teaching others to do the same.
This Hanukkah, I’m choosing to shine light for my children.
For my community.
For every life that matters.
We mourn those who were targeted.
We reject the hatred that tried to silence them.
And we respond the only way we know how, with strength, service, and humanity.
May our light be stronger than fear and may it teach the next generation to be strong and proud of who we are while respecting all others.
