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Good morning. People in Britain are increasingly distrustful of institutions, more convinced by conspiracy theories and are suffering from an overall decline in social cohesion. These are the findings of a recent report by Dame Sara Khan. These are the phenomena which paralyse democracies and fan the flames of hatred and division. Remarkably, Khan’s report observes that in a large survey of British adults, more than a third said they believe that a single group secretly controls world events. Another found that nearly three quarters of young people are being exposed to extreme content on social. This week, as Jewish communities around the world celebrate Chanukah, the Jewish festival of light, much will be said about the light that is desperately needed to banish the darkness of hatred and extremism. The word ‘Chanukah’ means ‘dedication’, a reference to the rededication of service in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, the heart of Jewish faith, after it had been ransacked by the Greek Hellenists some 2,200 years ago. In Hebrew, ‘Chanukah’ shares a root with ‘chinuch’, which means education. A powerful lesson emerges: Education requires dedication; the complete dedication of both teachers and students. But the inverse is equally true. Dedication to any cause requires responsible education. Indeed, it is the enthusiastic clamour to commit to a cause, despite a narrow understanding of it, which can lead to extremism. Extremism is not only about hatred. It is about ignorance; it is the instinct to look away, to avoid the discomfort of grappling with truths which challenge our biases. Extremism offers an alluring certainty, a black-and-white worldview that absolves us from the labour of nuance. It fills the void of ignorance with dogma, silencing the questions that might dissolve its fragile foundation. Yet, there is a remedy. Education humanises. When we deepen our knowledge, we learn that the world is intricate and interconnected. We discover the full humanity of those who differ from us, their struggles, hopes, and joys. We dismantle the barriers that ignorance raises. It becomes harder to hate a person whose story you know, whose pain you’ve heard, and whose dreams are not dissimilar to your own. The essence of our Chanukah celebration is the imperative to share with others the light of the miracles we have experienced. It is an invitation to learn about who we are. In an age where extremism threatens to tear us apart, the antidote lies in a radical commitment to learning, listening, and understanding. This is the light which can banish our darkness.