For the first time in nearly 20 years, the first night of Hanukkah begins on Christmas. In honor of the coming together of these holidays, the Jewish Christian Discovery Center (JCDC) is launching Project Let There Be Light across the United States.
Project Let There Be Light’s objective is to educate Christians and Jews about the commonalities both religions share. Its goal is to reduce antisemitism and other forms of religious intolerance. JCDC is providing menorah shaped Christmas ornaments to families across the United States to them on their Christmas trees. The Hanukkah menorah is the candle holder with nine branches. As an eight-day holiday, Jews around the world light a candle for each night of the holiday plus one extra one used to light all the others.
“As a practicing Jewish leader, Jesus, his family and community celebrated Hanukkah his whole life. In his time, Jesus would have seen menorahs lit in homes across ancient Israel,” Rabbi Albert Slomovitz, Executive Director of JCDC, said.
Each family will receive the menorah shaped ornament and access to “Light Up In the Night” song written by Emmy award winner and country music writer Leonard Wolf. Families can sing along at this YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cWEw8RfJM4
JCDC is sponsoring billboards across the country urging Christians to light a menorah this season. As a child, Jesus celebrated Hanukkah with his family. The billboards will be in Atlanta, Jacksonville, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Tucson, San Francisco, and other cities across the country.
“Project Let There Be Light symbolizes the light of mutual respect we all yearn for, especially now. With rising intolerance and antisemitism, Christians and Jews need to come together this time of year to push back on the growing hatred in the world,” Slomovitz said.
Families and church leaders can order the menorah ornament free of charge at https://therabbijesus.com/order-your-project-let-there-be-light-menorahs/.
