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In a period of great darkness‚ Jews worldwide are preparing to celebrate Hanukkah‚ the eight-day Festival of Lights that begins Thursday night. Yet some are trying to extinguish those lights. In Williamsburg‚ Virginia‚ the organizers of the Second Sundays Art and Music Festival‚ LoveLight Placemaking‚ canceled a scheduled menorah-lighting ceremony‚ citing the Israel-Hamas war. As National Review reported: Shirley Vermillion‚ the festival’s founder‚ cited logistical challenges and sensitivity to the ongoing Israel–Hamas conflict as reasons for the cancellation. ‘The concern is of folks feeling like we are siding with a group over the other …. not a direction we ever decide to head‚’ Vermillion said. She emphasized the festival’s inclusive nature and mentioned scheduling conflicts as well as a reluctance to have the festival engage in religious activities. After an outcry‚ the organizers made matters worse when they suggested “that the lighting could go forward only if they could get an Islamic group to participate‚ or if they could hold it under a banner calling for a cease-fire in Gaza.” This is like telling Irish Catholics that they couldn’t hold a St. Patrick’s Day parade unless they first issued a statement regarding the Irish Republican Army‚ or arranged to have Anglicans participate. No religious group should face a political test before being permitted to publicly celebrate its faith. Nor should the public celebration of one faith be dependent on the participation of practitioners of a different faith. As the United Jewish Community of the Virginia Peninsula stated: “We should be very clear: It is antisemitic to hold Jews collectively responsible for Israel’s policies and actions‚ and to require a political litmus test for Jews’ participation in community events that have nothing to do with Israel.” Sadly‚ the incident in Virginia isn’t a one-off occurrence. In Great Britain‚ a London suburb canceled a Hanukkah menorah-lighting ceremony‚ supposedly to avoid “inflaming tensions” related to the Israel-Hamas conflict. A Canadian town decided not to display a menorah for the first time in 20 years. In a town in Maine‚ a Star of David in a holiday display was replaced with a dreidel. Then again‚ maybe those who are uncomfortable with Hanukkah in the context of the Israel-Hamas war have a point. After all‚ the menorah doesn’t celebrate religious liberty only in the abstract—it celebrates a particular military victory in the battle of Israel’s indigenous Jews against the “settler-colonialist” Seleucid Greeks‚ who sought to eradicate Judaism. Hamas denies any Jewish connection to the Jewish homeland. The light of the menorah celebrates Jewish sovereignty in the Promised Land. The First Book of Maccabees records that when the Seleucid King Antiochus VII demanded that the Jews hand over Jerusalem and other cities they had liberated‚ Simon the Hasmonean sent back this apt reply: We have neither taken foreign land nor seized foreign property‚ but only the inheritance of our fathers‚ which at one time had been unjustly taken by our enemies. Now that we have the opportunity‚ we are firmly holding the inheritance of our fathers. (I Maccabees 15:33-34) But more than a military victory‚ Hanukkah celebrates a victory in the war of ideas between the Greeks’ pagan worldview and those who believed in the God of Abraham‚ Isaac‚ and Jacob. The Greeks imagined gods in the image of man‚ whereas the Jews believe God created man in His image‚ meaning that all humans are created equal and that life is sacred. The pagan gods were capricious and generally indifferent to human affairs. The Jews believe that God loves us and loves justice‚ that history has a purpose‚ and that God intervenes in history on the side of justice. The Talmud records that when the Jews drove back the Greek forces and rededicated the Holy Temple that the Greeks had defiled‚ they could find only one pure jar of oil to kindle the menorah‚ enough for only one day. But miraculously‚ the oil provided light for eight days—a sign of God’s providence—and hence Jews annually celebrate an eight-day festival during which they kindle an additional light each night. Originally‚ the menorah was supposed to be kindled outside one’s home‚ to publicize the miracle of the oil. Later‚ after Jews were expelled from their land and often lived among a hostile population‚ the menorah lights were kindled indoors. Fifty years ago‚ after another surprise attack on Israel on a Jewish holy day‚ Yom Kippur‚ the Lubavitcher Rebbe‚ Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson‚ launched a campaign to host public menorah lightings worldwide. The Hanukkah lights “demonstrate at once even to the physical eye … that the light goes on in the Jewish home even when it is dark and gloomy in the outside world‚” the Rebbe wrote. Even‚ and perhaps especially‚ when under attack‚ he added‚ a “Jew must not permit himself to be overawed by the darkness outside‚ but must illuminate his home‚” not resting there but letting “the light shine forth ‘outside.’” As the Rebbe often reminded us‚ even a little light expels a lot of darkness. Since then‚ public menorah lightings at city halls and public monuments—including the White House—have become a regular feature of Hanukkah celebrations in America and worldwide. In a 1790 letter to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport‚ Rhode Island‚ President George Washington famously assured the “Stock of Abraham” that the United States “gives to bigotry no sanction‚ to persecution no assistance.” Washington concluded his letter by beseeching the Father of All Mercies to “scatter light and not darkness in our paths.” Although bigotry again is rearing its ugly head‚ producing cracks in America’s commitment to religious liberty‚ the United States remains a shining city on a hill and a beacon of freedom to other nations. So long as religious liberty in America is protected and cherished‚ Jews will continue to illuminate the streets with the light of the menorah. Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state.   The post Why We Should Continue to Shine the Menorah’s Light Amid Darkness appeared first on The Daily Signal.

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When disaster strikes‚ FEMA turns to something called the Waffle House index. And here's the fascinating reason why! In the unpredictable dance of nature‚ where hurricanes twirl and whirl their destructive force‚ there emerges an unlikely hero-a beacon of comfort with the best breakfast food amidst the chaos. Enter the Waffle House‚ an unassuming haven that transcends its pancake-laden menu to become a symbol of stability in the face of adversity with a tool dubbed the ‘Waffle House Index.' RELATED: 8-Year-Old Learns His Favorite Waiter At Waffle House Is Struggling‚ So He Raises Over $100k The index isn't about waffle goodness but rather it's about damage in the area or neighborhood. Waffle House Index Explained Here's the deal. According to FEMA‚ "If a Waffle House can serve a full menu‚ they've likely got power (or are running on a generator). A limited menu means an area may not have running water or electricity‚ but there's gas for the stove to make bacon‚ eggs‚ and coffee: exactly what hungry‚ weary people need." The Waffle House blog says‚ "This index‚ with its color-coded signals‚ serves as a unique barometer of the storm’s severity. Green means all is well‚ yellow suggests limited resources‚ and red warns of severe damage." The Waffle House playbook for disaster response is a meticulous guide on how to reopen a restaurant when faced with challenges like gas without electricity or a generator without ice. The strategy involves limiting the menu to focus on key items‚ ensuring a streamlined supply chain that can cope with the demands of a post-disaster environment. Waffle House‚ with its 1‚600 restaurants stretching across hurricane-prone regions‚ has perfected the art of post-disaster recovery. The company’s commitment to reopening quickly after a storm is not just about profits; it’s a testament to a carefully crafted crisis-management strategy and a dedication to serving communities when they need it most. "If you get there and the Waffle House is closed? That's really bad. That's where you go to work‚" said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. A Shelter In The Storm In the aftermath of Hurricane Irene‚ while other businesses struggled to regain their footing‚ Waffle House emerged as a shining example of resilience. Despite losing power in multiple locations‚ the majority of its restaurants were back in business within days. The familiar yellow-and-black sign stood as a reassuring respite‚ promising warm meals and a semblance of normalcy to communities grappling with the aftermath of the storm. RELATED: He Tried Skipping Graduation for Work But His Waffle House Employees Weren't Having It Despite power outages in Weldon‚ N.C.‚ the local Waffle House was open by 6:30 in the morning‚ serving a limited menu of scrambled eggs and sausage biscuits. Resident Nicole Gainy made it to the restaurant for a hot meal. "I hadn't had a hot meal in two days‚ and I knew they'd be open‚" she said. In the eyes of patrons like Nicole Gainey‚ who sought solace in a warm breakfast after days without power‚ Waffle House becomes more than just a restaurant-it becomes a brief return to normalcy in the midst of life’s disruptions. In the aftermath of any type of storm‚ it's the little things like a cup of coffee that can make all the difference in life's unexpected storms. FEMA’s Waffle House index also caught the interest of comedian Jaron Myers. To hear his funny commentary where he pokes some fun at this took‚ check out the video below! WATCH: Comedian Pokes Fun At The Waffle House Index  What a blessing it is to have such smart people who know how to use even the most unassuming events like whether a restaurant opens its doors or not‚ as a clue to inform them about how they should best prepare to help others in the aftermath of an emergency. YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: God Turns Stranger's $40 Tip for Pregnant Waitress at Waffle House Into So Much More "Let each of you look not only to his own interests‚ but also to the interests of others‚" Philippians 2:4. LISTEN: Bride Gets Letter From Dad 20 Years After Death | Wynonna Judd Addresses Fans' Concerns Over Her Performance h/t: FEMA Featured Image Credit: Facebook/Alan Beaubien The post When Disaster Strikes‚ FEMA calls Waffle House and Here’s the Fascinating Reason Why appeared first on GodUpdates.