Using her own little candelabra, my mother Freda lit the candles on Yom Hashoah in 1952, when she was only 10 years old.
As we approach Chanukah, I am reminded of the profound message it carries for all of us, especially in these very challenging times. Our tradition teaches us that Am Yisrael, the people of Israel, is commanded to be a light unto other nations. This concept finds a beautiful parallel in the lighting of the chanukiah, where the shamash, the helper candle, spreads its light to the other candles.
As a Jewish educator, I am constantly struck by how much of our history and tradition has been shaped by men.
