A new kind of Chanukah miracle

The ‘official’ definition of a miracle is an extraordinary event that defies the laws of nature and logic. But when those kinds of miracles are thin on the ground, a broader interpretation is required.

After all, doesn’t the Talmud remind us not to rely on miracles and don’t Chasidic masters teach that the ordinary itself is miraculous? The clearest redefinition, then, should be what we have accomplished. And that’s a lot in 2025. It may not feel that way in a year clouded by sorrow and loss. But what could be more miraculous than the survival and return of the hostages after months of captivity, brutality and fear? Eight nights of menorah glow should provide enough light to find miracles, and we’re shedding some of it on the folk who have entertained, inspired or simply came home in 2025.

It isn’t definitive – and for that we apologise – but we wanted to recall the moments when…

Yoel Levy, aka the Jewish Fitness Coach, ran marathons in memory of Ariel and Kfir Bibas and their mother Shiri. In a bespoke Batman costume – the superhero the Bibas children adored – he recently ran marathons in Panama and Mexico and will keep running to honour their memory.

David Corenswet became the first Jewish actor to play Superman in the 2025 reboot of the DC legend that was originally created in 1938 by Jewish
teens Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.

Prince William made a surprise appearance alongside Eugene Levy in The Reluctant Traveler on Apple TV+. Sharing a pint with Levy, William joked:
“Was getting drunk with Prince William on your bucket list?” “That’s the bucket,” Levy replied.

Adrien Brody won Best Actor for The Brutalist, and Mikey Madison
took Best Actress for Anora.

Harrison Ford, 83, received his first-ever Emmy nomination for Shrinking, and Jason Isaacs earned his first for White Lotus season 3. The Emmy for
Outstanding Current Affairs Documentary went to Yariv Mozer’s We Will Dance Again, produced with others by the BBC’s Lucie Kon and Fulwell’s Leo Pearlman.

Rob Rinder and Rylan Clark took home the BAFTA for Best Factual Entertainment for Rob & Rylan’s Grand Tour.

Gal Gadot received her Hollywood Walk of Fame star and the Genesis Prize for outspoken support of Israel. Community Security Trust director of policy Dave Rich, Claudia Winkleman, and Tracy-Ann Oberman each received MBEs, as did Holocaust survivor and educator Manfred Goldberg MBE, who sadly passed away in November.

Yuval Raphael defied protests to represent Israel at Eurovision with New Day Will Rise by Keren Peles. Placing first in the semi-final and finishing second overall, Israel also won the audience televote.

Ellie Goldstein appeared on Strictly Come Dancing and every step of her Halloween week Tango was a statement of joy and inclusion.

Rugby star Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 23, shattered records with 37 points against Argentina in September, then led South Africa’s Springboks to victory over France in November.

Israeli wheelchair tennis star Guy Sasson won the French Open quad singles and doubles titles with partner Niels Vink, then the doubles crown at Wimbledon and the US Open.

And, of course, there was the return of the living hostages. Noa Argamani was finally reunited with her partner Avinatan Or, freed after 737 days, and Israel Defense Forces soldier Boris Shtonda, who lost a leg in battle walked down the aisle on his prosthetic to marry Anna.

If searching for miracles has a face, it surely belongs to Rachel and Jon Goldberg-Polin, parents of murdered hostage Hersh. Speaking around the world with astonishing grace in their grief, they came to London in November to help launch the new Koren Sacks Humash – an event to mark the fifth yahrzeit of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks. Rachel has said his quote, “It is not too much to say that Jews kept hope alive, and hope kept the Jewish people alive”, resonates deeply. As a mantra for finding miracles, it’s one to carry us into 2026.