Jewish Federation of San Diego’s Chief Development Officer Delivered Remarks at the San Diego City Council’s Chanukah Proclamation

On December 16, the San Diego City Council convened to issue numerous proclamations, including the City of San Diego’s recognition of Chanukah in 2025. At the hearing, Jewish Federation of San Diego’s Chief Development Officer, Michael Rabkin, delivered remarks on the Chanukah proclamation.  

In his remarks, Mr. Rabkin thanked the city council for continuing to recognize the Jewish community and iterated the importance of celebrating Chanukah publicly and proudly, stating that the holiday “is about refusing to disappear.” 

Regarding the current climate of rising antisemitism and threats to Jewish safety across the world, Mr. Rabkin underscored that Chanukah largely commemorates the Jewish people’s decision to survive with their Jewish identity intact. He added that, in moments of rising antisemitism “there is often an unspoken pressure on Jews to shrink, to keep our celebrations quieter… to be less visible for our own safety.” 

Following that, Mr. Rabkin thanked the council for continuing to acknowledge the Jewish community, commemorate their traditions, and publicly declare that Jewish people belong in civic life.  

Michael Rabkin’s Full Remarks at the City Council Chanukah Proclamation 

Thank you, Councilmember Campbell, for your leadership and for making space for this moment. And thank you to City Council for recognizing Chanukah and, through this proclamation, recognizing San Diego’s Jewish community.  

Chanukah is often described as a holiday about light overcoming darkness by increasing the number of candles we light each night. But it’s much more than that. At its core, Chanukah is about refusing to disappear.  

The story commemorates a moment more than two thousand years ago when Jews were told they could survive only if they erased their public identity, their practices, and their values. Jewish life could continue, but only quietly, privately, and conditionally. Chanukah marks the moment our ancestors rejected that bargain. It commemorates the rededication of Jewish life in the public square and the reassertion of agency as a people.  

In other words, Chanukah exists to mark the choice to survive with identity, rather than without it.  

That meaning feels especially present today. Just days ago, we witnessed another horrific antisemitic massacre, this time in Sydney. These attacks are not isolated or random. They are a tragic reminder of what happens when a worldview refuses to tolerate Jews living openly, visibly, and together. When Jewish presence itself is treated as a provocation.  

And in moments like these, there is often an unspoken pressure on Jews to shrink, to keep our celebrations quieter. To blend in. To be less visible for our own safety. Which is why moments like this matter so deeply.  

When local elected leaders publicly acknowledge the Jewish community and our holidays, you are doing more than offering symbolic recognition. You are saying that Jews belong fully in civic life. That Jewish visibility is not something to apologize for or hide. That our safety, dignity, and participation are not solely a Jewish concern, but a shared one.  

That message carries particular weight when it comes from leaders entrusted with the well-being of the entire city.  

At Jewish Federation of San Diego, our work is rooted in that same principle. We strengthen Jewish life locally and globally so Jews can show up fully, so they can live proudly and loudly in their Jewish identity. Unfortunately, today, that means heavily investing in security. In recent years, the San Diego Jewish community collectively has invested more than ten million dollars annually into enhancing the safety and security of our local Jewish institutions. Federation does the meaningful and necessary work of coordinating, training, and fortifying Jewish institutions. But it is also a sobering reminder that the Jewish community cannot assume others will always be willing or able to protect us.  

And yet, I want to be very clear: here in San Diego, we have seen something better.  

The partnerships and support we have experienced from local elected leaders and from law enforcement, especially over the past two years, have been tremendous. They have been proactive and collaborative. They have communicated not just concern, but commitment. And they have sent a powerful message that Jewish safety and Jewish belonging are civic priorities. 

San Diego City Council Proclamations 

The celebration of Chanukah proclamation, a routine order of business for the city council every year, has carried special weight each year since October 7, and holds additional significance this year following the antisemitic attack on Chanukah celebrators in Sydney, Australia on December 14.  

The additional proclamations at the hearing were: 

• Proclaiming December 16, 2025, to be “Assistant Fire Chief James Gaboury Day” in the City of San Diego. 

• Proclaiming December 26, 2025, to be “Alwin Benjamin Holman Day” in the City of San Diego. 

• Proclaiming January 2026 to be “National Blood Donor Month” in the City of San Diego.