Chanukah Heroes
OUR SEVENTH CANDLE is a reflection on the immutable connection of American Jewry to Israel. Our candle reminds us that the Jewish People are One, and that Israel is central to Jewish life. As we remember the Maccabees who defended Jewish peoplehood, let us unite, Americans and Israelis together, in celebration of the modern State of Israel, our national home.
Portrait of Louis Brandeis by Andy Warhol
The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. Courtesy Ronald Feldman Fine Arts, New York
Chanukah hero:
Louis Brandeis, Leader of American Zionism
Louis Brandeis (1856-1941) was an American lawyer who led the way for Americans to support the Zionist Movement. He served as the head of the Federation for American Zionists from 1914-1918. President Woodrow Wilson appointed him to be the first Jewish Supreme Court Justice in the US in 1916. He was able to use his political influence in the negotiations leading up to the Balfour Declaration, a statement of British support for the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
Brandeis is a Chanukah Hero because:
- He emphasized the compatibility of Zionism and American patriotism – both of which are based firmly on democratic principles
- He was committed to the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine in order to achieve self-determination and freedom for Jews worldwide.
