The Rabbi was not doing his job. I'm a Jew, and I do not expect our religious leaders to be embarrassing me by such trivialities. Comparing a menorrah to a Christmas tree is absurd. Hannukah is not even that important a holiday.
As already explained,1 in days bygone, the synagogue was the center of the Jewish community (that was before the era of golf-courses...). Morning and evening, the entire community would gather there to offer prayers to their Creator. Since the essence of the Menorah is Pirsumai Nissa (publicizing the miracle), the rabbis instituted that the menorah should receive maximum exposure by being lit in every synagogue.
Unfortunately today there are many Jews who don't go to the synagogue every day. The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneersohn, encourages us to bring the synagogue Menorah to any public area where Jews will be able to see the candles and be touched by the timeless message of Chanukah. So don't be surprised to see a large Menorah in your local shopping mall or in your town square!
The Lubavitcher Rebbe encourages us to bring the synagogue Menorah to any public area where Jews will be able to see the candles.
You should do your part as well: Make sure that at your Chanukah party there is a lit menorah prominently displayed. Put an electric menorah in the lobby of your office building, and if you’re making any sort of simcha during Chanukah, wedding, bar Mitzvah, etc., make sure that the event is illuminated with the brilliance of the Chanukah Menorah.2
Footnotes
1. See "Why is the Menorah lit in the synagogue?" (http://www.askmoses.com/article.html?h=181&o=40549).
2. Sha'arei Hamoadim, Chanukah, p. 367.
This spun out of control but the statement is more than a triviality. Try being a Jew 50 years ago in the U.S. or 5 minutes ago in many other countries and see who gives a * about your rights.
Happy Hannukah, Dave! Blessings to you and your family.