In 165 BCE, we recaptured our Temple in Jerusalem from the hands of the Assyrian Greeks and regained our freedom to celebrate the rituals of our religion. Whether the lighting of our menorah in the years following was to mark the miracle of oil lasting eight days upon our return when it should have naturally lasted only one, or whether the eight days was a replication of the eight days we spent dedicating our original desert Tabernacle or merely a belated celebration of Sukkot in the winter, we are uncertain. We do know that this festival celebrated the fact that against all odds, our faith survived. Even as a minority, we could live without others imposing their religious will upon us.

Twenty one hundred years later we continue to celebrate our festival of lights as a minority amidst a sea of so many other religious cultures. We continue to celebrate the fact that our holy lights shine brightly despite our small numbers and despite the forces that have tried to extinguish our sacred flames throughout the millennia.

Those of us who are parents will likely be visiting classrooms to share with other children the stories and traditions that make us unique. As we bring our religion into the public domain, we need to be aware of the lines of what is and what is not acceptable within our schools.

The Anti-Defamation League in its document entitled “The December Dilemma – December Holiday Guidelines for Public Schools” notes that there is a difference between practicing religion and teaching about religion. It is constitutionally permissible for public schools to teach about religion but unconstitutional for public schools to observe religious holidays or practice religious customs. As some of us enter the classroom to educate our children’s classmates about our holidays, we must be careful not to cross the line between expanding a student’s knowledge of our nation’s diversity and endorsing a religion.

While we can teach about religion, we cannot practice religious acts. Saying blessings while lighting the menorah is a religious act that is prohibited according to the separation of religion and state. Telling the Chanukah story, showing the menorah, playing dreidel and eating our cultural foods are educational and hence, acceptable. If you find yourself sharing our holiday of Chanukah in the public school, try to highlight the themes that are universal – Chanukah celebrates our freedom to express our faith and Chanukah celebrates the lights that exist in the darkness of winter. Just as some of us might be concerned about the ways a parent of another religion might teach their faith in the classroom, we need to be sensitive and respectful.

Jewish Law teaches that in times of peace, when we light our menorah, we should place it in our windows to publicly proclaim the miracles of our past. While there are lines of limit on what we can do in the classroom, all of us should feel comfortable sharing proudly the flames of our faith from our homes and from our sanctuary.

Teaching others about our beliefs and creating interfaith connections is very valuable and can only help to build bridges of understanding. As we enter the holiday season and the public sphere, may we do it with respect for and sensitivity to those of other faiths.