1.Thank You for Your Light

The response to our campaign (particularly around Thanksgiving) reminded me how generous we are as a community and as individuals. Hanukkah starts this week and for those among us who haven't yet made a gift, the time is now. As we light our candles, spin dreidels and of course eat, let us not forget about making the world a better place. Even if just a little bit more. Our support - along with 140 other Federations in North America - for communities both home and overseas has never been more critical. It is our turn to make the oil last eight times longer. I know we can count on you. Chag Sameach.

For the fastest way to donate, go to JewishNewBedford.org.

2.Hebrew for Heebris

"Perhaps the best single-word summation of the reasons for Israel’s catastrophic failure to recognize that Hamas was about to invade 26 months ago, and thus to prevent the ensuing massacre, is hubris." (Or as they say it in Hebrew, heebris.)

"All the evidence was there, in the months, weeks, days and hours before the onslaught, but Israel’s political and military chiefs refused to accept it. Instead, they convinced themselves that Hamas wanted calm and stability, convinced themselves that this assessment was more accurate than the facts, convinced themselves that the enemy was incapable of carrying out the brutal rampage it so horrifically executed. Hubris at its most cataclysmic — excessive pride, unfounded overconfidence, consequent disaster.

"Twenty-six months later, with Hamas much degraded, Hezbollah radically set back and Iran battered, Israel risks falling back into that same devastating hubris. 'Israel today is stronger than ever. It is the strongest power in the Middle East,' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proudly asserted in the Knesset on Monday. And we know what comes after pride."

For a current state of the state, read in full The Times of Israel's editor, David Horovitz's, Editor's Note: "The Return of Israel's Most Debilitating Weakness: Hubris"

3.Wonderful Christmastime?

Outside of John's Happy Xmas (War Is Over) and Paul's Wonderful Christmastime, a lot of Christmas songs were written by Jews (Irving Berlin's royalties must be in the billions). Arguably the most famous one not written by a Jew, though, is Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas. And now it has a Jewish version.

"But that didn’t stop singer Maskit Mati from filming an adorable Hanukkah parody of the song in which she sings that she doesn’t care 'about the donuts under the hanukkiah' because 'all I want for Hanukkah is you,' with impressive vocals and theatrical flair. Mati, who hails from Australia but lives in New York City, filmed the video in the city’s iconic and oh-so-crowded Times Square with the billboards illuminating the shots like Hanukkah candles."

To watch the video, open this link: "All We Want for Hanukkah Is This Mariah Carey Parody." Within the article is a link to the singer's Instagram page where you can see her performance. Simply click on the picture.

4.Dance 'Til the Oil Runs Out, Alan

"Dancing with the Stars recently featured its first-ever Hanukkah-themed dance, choreographed by Jewish pro dancer Alan Bersten, as a special moment of cultural representation during a holiday show. Set to Matisyahu's Miracle, the routine included menorah formations, dreidel spins, and elements of the hora, with Bersten expressing his hope that Jewish kids would feel seen and proud. The performance, which also involved fellow Jewish dancer Val Chmerkovskiy, was widely praised by viewers and Jewish organizations for bringing much-needed Hanukkah representation to the ballroom."

If you didn't catch it when it aired, watch the video below. 

5.These Moments

Some you may have missed and some you'll want to revisit. Hey Alma wraps up the year with "The Top 10 Jewish Pop Culture Moments of 2025."

"December is a time of embracing the magic of festive cheer. It’s when we appreciate the warm company of our loved ones the most, and when we allow ourselves to wear comfy sweaters and drink hot cocoa 24/7. It’s also the time when we crash out the hardest from overloading on Hanukkah and Christmas commercialism, spending way too much time with family, overheating in winter clothes and eating a lot of oil and sugar.

"That’s OK. Embrace the crash out. Find 15 minutes for yourself this season. And allow us to help you self-soothe with yet another end-of-year list." (Below is a standout scene from The Pitt that made the cut.)

6.Go, Talia

A new and welcome addition to women's soccer in the US is Israeli international player Talia Sommer who signed with Gotham FC. Talia has played for Israel's national team and is a graduate of Butler University. She becomes the first Israeli in top US women's soccer league.

7.Let There Be Light (and Sugar)

"One year, my Hebrew school taught a sufganiyot-making class as part of our annual Hanukkah celebration. Allowing 25 preteens to work around a deep fryer and piping bags full of jelly was absolute chaos, and I’m sure the cleaning staff was scrubbing jelly and oil off the walls for a week. Despite the pandemonium, getting to eat doughnuts—fresh from the fryer and oozing with jam—alongside my friends remains one of my top Hanukkah memories," writes Elana Berusch for JewishBoston.

If you’d like to enjoy a jelly-filled treat for the holiday but avoid the mess, these sufganiyot cupcakes are a great option. Below are some more desserts for the holiday season.

8.Countdown to Volunteering

The Christmas dinner held at the Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish Hall - sponsored by the Jewish Federation and Coastline Elderly Services and coordinated by Ellen Hull and Stanley Levine for the past 20 years - is now in its 49th year. Would you like to help serve or deliver some 300 meals?

Please contact Ellen Hull at (508) 993-5742. Both drivers and workers for Christmas day are needed.

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