Celebrating Light and Goodness

A menorah was once again lit at Toronto Police headquarters in the lead up to Hanukkah, which begins on Dec. 25.

“It is important for us to celebrate Hanukkah with the community, and for Jewish community members and our Jewish Service members to be able to celebrate in an inclusive space,” said Deputy Chief Robert Johnson. “As you know, the candles symbolize the triumph of light over darkness. As we are getting ready to start a new year, Hanukkah represents values like leadership, hope and resilience – principles that are deeply shared by the Toronto Police and the Jewish community.”

Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem over 2,000 years ago, after a group of small group of Jewish fighters, the Maccabees, defeated the Seleucid Empire, which had tried to impose their culture on the Jewish people.

When they lit the Temple’s menorah, miraculously a one-day supply of oil lasted eight days – creating the Hanukkah tradition.

Solicitor General Michael Kerzner said lighting the menorah represents shared values of light and goodness.

“We all belong on this quilt of Ontario, no matter our faith, no matter how we got here, we all have an opportunity at Christmas and Hanukkah to understand the power of light,” Kerzner said. “Next week, when we light our candles, we should do it for all the reasons that we stand for – we stand for friendship, we stand for tolerance.”

Co-Chair of the Toronto Police Jewish Community Consultative Committee and the CEO of the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center, Michael Levitt, said it’s be a time of great distress and anxiety for Jews in Canada and around the world after a rise in anti-Semitism after the Oct. 7 attacks.

“The story of Hanukkah is one of the Jewish people overcoming adversity through strength and resilience and the light overcoming darkness,” Levitt said. “I cannot overstate the importance of allyship from non-Jews, especially now given what we’re experiencing. That could not be more true of our law enforcement across the country and here at the Toronto Police Service.”

The Israel Consul General of Toronto and Western Canada Idit Shamir, Deputy Solicitor General Mario Di Tomsaso, Inspector General of Policing Ryan Teschner and City Councillor James Pasternak all joined in the celebration.

Toronto Police Service Board Chair Nick Migloire said the story is Hanukkah is a story of hope that we need now more than ever.

“We recognize the diversity both within our Service, within our city and we honour each and every faith and all the values that guide us daily,” Migloire said. “As a Board we want to ensure we work in a meaningful partnership with faith leaders across our city.”

Rabbi Mendel Chaikin, of Chabad of Downtown, lit the menorah fully alongside Deputy Chief Robert Johnson.

“One cannot compromise when it comes to our essence, our faith. This is the miracle we celebrate every year on Hanukkah,” said Rabbi Chaikin, who thanked police officers for protecting the rights of Jewish people to practice their faith safely at synagogue.

Menorahs will also lit at 32 Division and 52 Division stations.