The Sages taught in a baraita: It is a mitzva to place the Hanukkah lamp at the entrance to one’s house on the outside, so that all can see it. If they lived upstairs, they place it at the window adjacent to the public domain. And in a time of danger, when the gentiles issued decrees to prohibit kindling lights, they place it on the table and that is sufficient to fulfill their obligation.
...אמר רבה נר חנוכה מצוה להניחה בטפח הסמוכה לפתח והיכא מנח ליה רב אחא בריה דרבא אמר מימין רב שמואל מדפתי אמר משמאל והילכתא משמאל כדי שתהא נר חנוכה משמאל ומזוזה מימין:
The Chanukkah candle - it is a mitzvah to set it in the hand-breadth abutting the door (lit. - "opening") And where does he set it? Rav Acha son of Rava said: on the right; Rav Shmuel from Difti said: on the left. The halachah is that it is placed on the left, so that there will be the Chanukkah candle on the left and the mezuzah on the right.
1. We have many mitzvot and many holidays: why is publicizing the miracle such an important feature of Chanukkah specifically?
2. How do PDJ's or Public Displays of Jewishness feel? Is it challenging? Terrifying? Exciting? Both? Neither?
3. The opinion in the Talmud and the halacha (ideally) places our menorah (candelabrum) in the doorway. Do you see a connection between the historical and spiritual significance of the mezuzah/Pesach story and the menorah/Chanukkah story? If yes, what does this association conjure and invite from us?