Bringing Light Into Darkness
As a proud Jew, I have not hesitated to discuss my faith or family history in public life. I am pained by the rising levels of anti-Semitism—and hate of all kinds—that we are witnessing across our nation. And I refuse to be silent. I discussed this threat recently at a commemoration of the Babi Yar massacre that occurred during the Holocaust.
For my family, the Holocaust is very personal. My grandparents and mom survived the Holocaust. Their stories of resilience are a source of inspiration to me. My mom is one of the youngest Holocaust survivors alive because she was, along with my grandmother, liberated by the U.S. Army when she was a week old. And afterwards they made the long journey to the United States because of our nation’s commitment to freedom and opportunity for all.
As a nation, we must stand up for our motto—from many, we are one (e pluribus unum). And we must all speak out against hate and discrimination of all kinds. The same type of hate directed at America’s Jewish communities right now surfaced when a violent attack was perpetrated against the Colorado Springs LGBTQIA+ community. And that same hatred reared its ugly head in an attack against African Americans in Buffalo last spring. As the Anti-Defamation League emphasizes, hate against one group is hate against everyone.
I’m grateful for Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff standing up and speaking out against anti-Semitism on a national—and international—level. We need more people speaking out against the hatred we’re facing, and I join him in this fight. We must refuse to be afraid, and we must call out hate when we see it.
As Jews around the world light the Hanukkah menorah, we can focus on what each of us can do to bring light into darkness. That includes the work we do to overcome rising hate with love, heeding the words of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. My grandmother lived that value—she remained positive and she never gave up hope.
Together, as we approach a new year and consider how we can do our part to heal our world, we can recognize, as it is said in scripture, that while “we are not required to complete the work, we are not free to desist from doing our part.”
I wish everyone the happiest of holidays.
