Publicity

In the Mishneh Torah, the great rabbi Moses Maimonides explains both the reason and obligation of Chanukah.

When the Jews overcame their enemies and destroyed them, they entered the Sanctuary; this was on the 25th of Kislev. They could not find any pure oil in the Sanctuary with the exception of a single cruse. It contained enough oil to burn for merely one day. They lit the arrangement of candles from it for eight days until they could crush olives and produce pure oil.

Accordingly, the Sages of that generation ordained that these eight days, which begin from the twenty fifth of Kislev, should be commemorated to be days of happiness and praise [of God]. Candles should be lit in the evening at the entrance to the houses on each and every one of these eight nights to publicize and reveal the miracle.

[Mishneh Torah, Laws of Chanukah, Chapter 3, Halachah 2 to 3]

So, after lighting our menorah, I ventured up to Gefen Street to see how my neighbors lit.

All lit properly.

The highway in the background is Route 60, which traces the Way of the Patriarchs from Shechem (Nablus) to Be'er Shevah. Efrat is on the Hevron--Bethlehem segment, as seen here.

I never noticed until tonight that my neighbors, to "glorify the mitzvah", built a special window for their menorah.

If they could, they would keep the lights on their front porch all year long, too.