A Special Hanukkah Message from Head of School, Dr. Jonathan Levy

Dear TanenbaumCHAT Community,

I have an unusual book at home, Emek HaSufganim, devoted entirely to the custom of eating donuts on Hanukkah. Centuries ago, Rabbi Maimon ben Yosef—the father of the Rambam (Maimonides)—ate a form of donut on Hanukkah to celebrate the miracle of the oil that the Maccabees found burning for eight days instead of one. What began as simple fried pastries has evolved into the sufganiyot we enjoy today, filled with sweetness and shared in joy.

It is striking that a holiday once centered on burning oil has become a holiday where we are accustomed to eating oil—latkes sizzling in pans and sufganiyot dusted with sugar. Why do we eat oil to celebrate burning oil? Aside from being delicious, food is one of the most tangible ways to bring memory into daily life. Passover, Rosh Hashanah, Shavuot, and Purim all have specific foods associated with them. On Hanukkah, by cooking with oil, we don’t just recall the miracle of the Temple lamps; we embody it. The oil in our kitchens transforms the miracle into something we can taste, share, and celebrate together.

At TanenbaumCHAT, we celebrate Hanukkah not only with menorahs and latkes, but with the pride of living openly and joyfully as Jews. Every candle we light and every sufganiyah we share is a declaration: we are proud of who we are, proud of our Judaism, and proud of our connection to Israel, the homeland that embodies the miracle of Jewish renewal.

Hanukkah teaches us that light can overcome darkness, that community can overcome isolation, and that Jewish pride is best celebrated together. In classrooms, assemblies, and homes, we magnify the joy of the holiday when we stand side by side, united in tradition and in our love for Israel.

May this Hanukkah bring sweetness, warmth, and pride to our TanenbaumCHAT family. Let us continue to celebrate together, to stand proudly Jewish, and to shine as a community rooted in faith, resilience, and hope.

Wishing you all a Shabbat Shalom and Happy Hanukkah.

Dr. Jonathan Levy
Head of School