Happy Hanukkah

Happy Hanukkah and Festival of Lights to our beloved and brave Jewish friends.
You continue to stand strong in the midst of attrocities that you have faced recently and for so many years.

This evening, December 7th through December 15th is the celebration of Hanukkah. I understand that Hanukkah, which translates to “dedication,” is about a recommitment to the ideals of Judaism, according to New York City Rabbi Diana Fersko. It honors the Jewish fighters who fought against Syrian armies to defend their religious beliefs in 164 BC.

Jewish leaders say the holiday’s history is an apt reminder of the ongoing effort to combat antisemitism and stand proud of their Jewish identity.

While members of the community may feel cautious about putting menorahs in their windows or publicly celebrating this Hanukkah, Jewish Federations of North America President Eric Fingerhut says that embracing their Jewish heritage is “an act of strength and determination” in the face of hate.

“Our hope is that the Hanukkah lights will do for us what they’ve done in ancient times, that they will bring some light into this darkness and point us towards an end to this period and towards a brighter period,” said Fingerhut. JFNA is an umbrella group of Jewish communal organizations around the United States.

The Department of Homeland Security earlier urged Jewish leaders to be cautious of individuals who have been “incited to violence by an ideology of hate.”

“Of course, there are disagreements as there always are, but I’ve actually never seen the Jewish community more united,” Fingerhut said, pointing to the March for Israel that he says garnered almost 300,000 attendees.

Peace be with you, our beloved friends. Shalom!

(Thanks to ABC News for much of the wording in this blog.)