Chanukah with the Jewish Employees Association: A Lunch of Light, Learning, and Community
New York – Homeland News -From- NYCHA
NOW –
On December 18, members of NYCHA’s Jewish Employees Association (Batei Tsibur), gathered for reflection, friendly conversation, and a tasty Chanukah lunch of latkes, potatoes, and jelly donuts. A few participants even joined via Zoom, including Alan Pelikow, President Emeritus of Batei Tsibur.
Rabbi Yakov David Cohen, Director of the Institute of Noahide Code (a United Nations non-governmental organization), alongside Daniel Mahpour, Batei Tsibur President and one of the hosts of the gathering, led a thoughtful discussion driven by a question-and-answer dialogue. He invited participants to think about the story of Chanukah and the meaning behind it, beginning with questions such as who the Maccabees were and what they were fighting for. He also reflected on the challenges of contemporary life, observing that “today in America, the hardest thing is the flood of misinformation,” and reminding the group that spiritual clarity requires intention and grounding. The discussion also touched on the importance of service, on “pushing a little harder in the service that you already render.”
In addition to teaching, Rabbi Cohen spoke about his work at the United Nations through the Noahide organization, which is dedicated to spreading light, fostering peace, and promoting shared moral values with people of all nations. He linked this mission directly to the spirit of Chanukah, describing the holiday as a call to illuminate the world.
Reflecting on the setting itself, Rabbi Cohen pointed out that New York City “contains the whole world,” calling it a unique place of opportunity for connection and possibility. He suggested that in a future “golden age,” competition would give way to cooperation, and that love and peace would characterize and guide all human relationships.
All told, the event was a vivid animation of the ancient themes of Chanukah.
