One of the key take aways from Chanukah was the centrality that the Temple and Jerusalem played in triggering the Hashmonaim led rebellion against Greek rule. After all the Greeks and their Jewish Hellenist partners defiled the Temple and took control of the Jerusalem. Defeating Israel’s enemies meant that real sovereignty was restored.

Not much has changed thousands of years later. The Centrality of Jerusalem is still key for establishing Jewish sovereignty throughout the Land of Israel. Jerusalem itself was established early on as the focus of the Zionist movement and it has miraculously been fully liberated and restored as the Jewish nation’s capital.

This Chanukah 5783 there are more than a thousand Jews living in the Old Jewish Quarter (aka Muslim and Christian Quarters). With each new Jewish family that moves back into liberated Jerusalem, more and more light shines throughout the Jewish Quarter. While a 1,000 Jews is impressive we can do more.

Chanukah is about the light of Redemption and each Jew has the ability to increase this light in the world – most importantly in Jerusalem where our sovereignty is linked to the final Redemption.