NC Governor Josh Stein Hosts Hanukkah Menorah Lighting at Executive Mansion

A Historic Hanukkah Celebration

• 🕎 Governor Josh Stein and his family hosted the first Hanukkah menorah lighting ceremony at the North Carolina Executive Mansion with a Jewish governor at the helm.
• 🤝 The event was a significant moment, marking a new chapter for the state and its Jewish community.

Values and Community Engagement

• 🤝 Governor Stein highlighted his recent meeting with the North Carolina Jewish Clergy Association, emphasizing their dedication to putting faith into action.
• 💡 Key discussion points included securing funding for Medicaid, ensuring SNAP benefits for food security, and protecting the health of democracy.
• ✊ The governor stressed the importance of ensuring every person in North Carolina can live without fear, regardless of their background or the color of their skin.

The Enduring Power of Hope and Light

• 🕯️ Governor Stein drew parallels between the Hanukkah story and the ongoing struggle for progress, noting that progress is not always linear.
• 🌟 He emphasized that Hanukkah teaches the importance of maintaining hope even in the darkest of times, and that a single light can pierce overwhelming darkness.
• ✨ The message was to ignite individual flames and collectively be a source of light in schools, neighborhoods, and across the state.

Resilience, Creativity, and Freedom

• ✡️ Rabbi Lucy Dinner spoke about rededicating oneself to Jewish values and saw Governor Stein as embodying the miracle of Hanukkah.
• ✊ Rabbi Charlie Satron Walker emphasized Hanukkah as a celebration of resilience, creativity, and freedom, particularly for groups who have faced adversity.
• 🤝 He called for reaching out with friendship and mutual respect to diminish extremism and intolerance, advocating for shared freedom for all people.

A Celebration of Light and Unity

• 🎉 The ceremony included the lighting of the menorah, singing, and a reminder of the traditions and history associated with Hanukkah.
• 🍎 Attendees were encouraged to enjoy the refreshments and celebrate the spirit of the holiday together.