In 1925, my grandfather came to America seeking a better life and to avoid being conscripted into the Czechoslovakian army. At 20 years old, he envisioned a goldene medina, an idyllic golden country where the streets were paved with gold and opportunities for success and freedom abounded.
Despite battling tuberculosis, surviving a workplace shooting at a TB rehab center, financial struggles, and losing most of his family in the Holocaust – among other hardships – he appreciated the blessings of his family along with Judaism and its many customs. He saw light where others might see darkness, finding a silver lining in his misfortune.
I believe he’d be sadly disillusioned to learn how history is repeating itself from the dark days of his young life: the mini-Holocaust massacre of October 7 last year in Israel; wars raging there and between Russia and Ukraine; rampant antisemitism and hatred; political unrest; and TB remaining the world’s deadliest infectious disease killer. But he’d have found the light in the darkness, just as we are supposed to discover and celebrate the lights of Chanukah this month amid the shorter days of December and our current world climate.
It’s quite difficult to find the light amid the darkness with the tremendous obstacles we face today, whether it’s global divides, personal health or financial challenges. But like for my grandfather and many of our immigrant ancestors, who I believe had it much tougher than we do today, there’s a way to find the light surrounding us.
This year, as Chanukah coincides with Christmas, we only need to look around and appreciate the lights of their holiday decorations combined with our menorah flames to celebrate what unites rather than what separates. Hope you find your light this Chanukah, and when you do, cherish it and pass it along.”
Roni Robbins is a journalist and author of Hands of Gold: One Man’s Quest to Find the Silver Lining in Misfortune.