From Our CEO
From New York to Dubai
December 3rd, 2021

These eight days of Hanukkah have been a study in contrasts. From a menorah lighting in Times Square, New York, home to the largest Jewish community outside of Israel — to lighting one in Dubai, with one of the world’s smallest (and newest) Jewish communities. From Hanukkah’s celebration of Jewish life and continuity — to the sobering recognition that we confront antisemitism, “bayamim hahem, bazman hazeh,” in ancient times and in our times.

Challenges and opportunities. Darkness and light. The reality of the Jewish experience today is complicated — and extraordinary.

The menorah lighting in Times Square on Monday was part of the national Shine A Light initiative, which aims to raise awareness about growing contemporary antisemitism. We organized the event together with JCRC-NY, supported by our philanthropic partners — and were joined by a diverse group of political and communal leaders, including Governor Kathy Hochul, Mayor Bill de Blasio, and Attorney General Letitia James.

It speaks to what it means to be a Jew in America today that we could publicly and proudly celebrate Hanukkah in the glittering heart of New York, joined by powerful allies in a demonstration of collective resolve. And yet, tall barricades and heightened security for the event reminded us of the current realities.

After leaving Times Square, I flew to join a UJA mission in Dubai, where a small but determined Jewish community has emerged from the shadows over the last 10 years. We had come to hear from Jewish community leaders about their experiences and aspirations. Because of Covid restrictions, ours was the first Jewish federation to arrive since the signing of the historic Abraham Accords.

As Ross Kriel, one of the founders of the Jewish community tells it, prior to the Abraham Accords, Jews whispered “Shabbat Shalom” and kippahs were never worn in public. Rabbi Yehuda Sarna, Chief Rabbi of the Jewish Council of the Emirates, shared that when he first met with the Dubai Jewish community in 2017, he gave a lecture on Jewish law about displaying menorahs privately vs. publicly, given what was then an underground community.

And now…

Now, one can see Israeli flags flying on cars driving down the street. Kippahs are worn openly. “Shabbat shalom” is said full-throatedly. And with about 400-500 people currently affiliated with the Jewish community in Dubai, there are already multiple synagogues.

We visited Expo 2020 Dubai, where 192 countries are represented, including Israel. The Israeli pavilion was actually under construction before the Abraham Accords officially opened relations between the countries. And the head of the Israeli delegation reported that the pavilion has been enormously popular.

In the United Arab Emirates, which yesterday celebrated 50 years since its founding, there is constant talk of curiosity, openness, and diversity. Though religious values are emphasized, as one of the Emiratis we met noted: each person can decide his or her own path to God. And these genuinely don’t feel like empty words. Jewish-Islamic coexistence is beginning to happen here in meaningful and inspiring ways — and is a model that can transform the region, and the world.

No longer is there any concern about menorahs on public display. On Wednesday evening, we lit Hanukkah candles in an outdoor area of a kosher restaurant in the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. Last night, we lit the Hanukkah candles, recited the blessings, and sang Maoz Tzur on the large outdoor terrace of our hotel, with dozens of other hotel guests watching from their tables. One of the people in our group, a New Yorker who’s been coming to the UAE for business for over 30 years, said it was a sight he’d never forget.    

UJA Federation of New York >> <center>
<p><em><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Segoe UI', system-ui, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: inherit; background-color: #ffffff;">Lighting Hanukkah candles with UJA delegation in Dubai, Dec. 2, 2021</span></em></p>
</center>

Lighting Hanukkah candles with UJA delegation in Dubai, Dec. 2, 2021

Hanukkah is about the miracle of the Jewish people. Over this Hanukkah, I saw how the miracle continues to expand, endure, and even astonish. In these days and in this time.

Shabbat shalom and happy Hanukkah from Dubai