From Halloween to Hanukkah: Finding the Light in Every Mitzvah Student
I have a confession to make. I’m a rabbi who loves Halloween! Not every rabbi shares my enthusiasm. Over the years, I’ve even debated colleagues who believe Jewish children shouldn’t celebrate Halloween, dress in costumes, or miss Hebrew school to go trick-or-treating.
I’ve always seen things differently. Since I began teaching Hebrew school in 1994, I’ve appreciated Halloween as an opportunity for children to have fun, connect with friends, meet neighbors, and experience a sense of community. While Halloween isn’t a Jewish holiday, its social benefits are undeniable.
Every October, when tutoring my Bar and Bat Mitzvah students over Zoom, I ask about their Halloween costumes, trick-or-treating plans, and favorite candy. Sometimes they’re surprised that their rabbi is interested in Halloween! But that’s precisely the point. Being a rabbi is about making connections, understanding what excites young people, and finding ways to connect their world with Jewish life.
And that brings us from Halloween to Hanukkah! For many of my students, Hanukkah is their favorite and most familiar Jewish holiday. Even students who cannot recognize an Alef, the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, often know four other Hebrew letters: Nun, Gimel, Hey, and Shin. Why? Because they’ve played dreidel!
Sometimes the key to unlocking a child’s Jewish identity is something as simple as a spinning dreidel. Finding that connection can open the door to a lifetime of Jewish learning, belonging, and pride.
Ultimately, it’s all about light. Hanukkah reminds us that even a small flame can overcome great darkness, and I believe every Bar and Bat Mitzvah student carries that same potential. Whether I celebrated with your family twenty years ago, last weekend, or will celebrate with you in the future, I see each young person as a beacon of light.
In a world that can sometimes feel dark, lonely, frightening, and uncertain, our children give us hope. Their Jewish journeys remind us that tomorrow can be brighter than yesterday and that each of us has the power to bring more light into the world.
As Hanukkah approaches, I hope your home will be filled with warmth, laughter, cherished traditions, and the joy of being together. Whether your family’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah is a treasured memory or an exciting milestone still ahead, I’m grateful to be part of your family’s Jewish journey. May the light we kindle in our homes continue to shine through our children, our families, and generations yet to come.
