Hanukkah, the Maccabee Myth, and the Israel-Hamas War: Israel, Gaza, and The Washington Hebrew Congregation
Hanukkah begins on Thursday evening. The Maccabee myth tells the story of a family of rebels that led a revolt against an oppressive, anti-Jewish Greek rule. The Maccabees lit their menorah after defeating the Greeks in their temple. It was supposed to stay lit for one night, but it lasted for eight.
This season, the Festival of Lights is happening as the Israel-Hamas war continues to rage on. The October 7 attacks in Israel killed at least 1200 people. 16,200 Palestinians have been killed as a result of the conflict according to the Associated Press.
The significance and popularity of the holiday has made Jewish communities all over the country continue to honor it.
“We are praying for peace first and foremost. There’s a particular term called ‘shalom rav’ which means a great peace. We want a great peace to reign down on us, on our communities, on our families, but particularly on Israel and Gaza in this moment,” Rabbi Fischel told NPR’s Morning Edition.
Washington Hebrew Congregation in Washington, D.C. will celebrate Hanukkah this year just as vibrant as any other year, but with a greater emphasis on peace and healing.
White and Black: Israel in the Light of Sixty Years of the War–with-Hamas (This year’s Hanukkah Celebrations are Tempered by Israel’s War with Hamas)
One way to facilitate healing is through education, according to Rabbi Fischel. Prior to the attacks, they had planned a class on Israel that focused on judicial reform.
WHC also has physical ties to Israel. They’re in constant contact with their sister congregation, according to Rabbi Fischel. Na’ama is Hadash’s rabbi. Dafni-Kellen, even visited once the war broke out to check in with the Washington congregants.
“We have started a fund to give relief to the kibbutzim down south that were devastated by these attacks; to raise money for an ambulance in Israel as well as to raise money for families of hostages and we have so far raised $500,000.”
We are using neon on our Shabbat Hanukkah this year. We have not only our hannukkiyote but we’re going to have glow sticks and neon lights,” Rabbi Fischel said. We’re telling people to wear white because we know it will bring a lot of light into this dark time.
Barry Lutz: Hebrew joy and anti-Jewish sentiment in the West Hollywood Orthodox Synagogue in memory of “The Holocaust“
“The theme of our community this year is stand strong. The interim Rabbi of West Hollywood’s Kol Ami Reform Synagogue, Barry Lutz, said that the community needed to stand strong in this time of transition when one rabbi was replaced by another. “Given everything that’s going on in our world, both in our country and now in Israel, it’s somehow become a very fitting symbol.”
Rabbi Lutz says that the feeling and conversation with his congregants is familiar, on whether growing anti-Jewish sentiment has been discussed.
The core of the community I serve is the Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual (LGBT) community. He said that there was a heightened concern of anti-LGBTQ sentiment in the country. “There’s been a dual concern that existed before October 7th.”
“When you give part of something away you have less of it, but when you share light you have more of it. “We can be a source of light if we eat latkes and eat doughnuts, sing and drink together, and just enjoy each other’s company,” said Rabbi Lutz.
Gellis says, “One of the most important things we can do as a community is to make sure we don’t stop living our lives, that we keep celebrating who we are.”
He understands concerns about security and safety at any public Jewish event these days. But be believes that coming together proudly as Jews is the best way to experience what he calls Jewish joy and to kindle light against darkness.
The Little Army Beats the Big Army: Celebrating Hanukkah with Jewish Joy Despite War and Increasing Antisemitism
The little army beat the big army, it was a miracle. “We are small but mighty. We’re not going away no matter what you throw at us.
Organizing Gelty Pleasures is the queer Jewish group JQ International. Founder and CEO Asher Gellis knows it’s hard to think of celebrating Hanukkah this year not just because of the Israel-Hamas war and the rise in antisemitism but also because of the increase in anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.
“Well, I’m really, really looking forward to being able to judge everybody on their latke recipes who think they’re better than me, and I’m sure that you’ll like that,” says Aunt Shirley. It’s nice that they are still trying.
One of my drag characters will be the headline for Gelty Pleasures. “Aunt Shirley is a 1950’s housewife from Brooklyn who has never been in trouble with the law but she does not want to be gone.”
The dinners are one component of a weeklong celebration with other Jewish organizations around LA called Infinite Light. There’s a big party at the museum on the first night of Hanukkah and a show called Gelty Pleasures next week.
Source: Hanukkah celebrations inspire Jewish joy despite war and increasing antisemitism
Hanukkah Celebrations Increment inspire Jewish Joy Despite War and Increasing Antisemitism, by a Woman from Home
She says that they had a big brick fireplace and wooden mantel. I remember that it was melting on that. Wax everywhere, which is so fun and beautiful.”
This week, a woman who works from home spent part of her lunch break decorating She put a menorah on the table and then unboxed some blue lights.
She said she would put them over the door frame in the dining room. “That was the question, the discussion this morning: Do I place them over the window so the blue light can hit the window? What do I want to look at the most?”
Cuellar says that this worry makes her more reluctant this year to decorate in ways that people passing by outside might see, such as putting the lights or the menorah in the window. She’s hosting a Hanukkah party Friday night.
“I feel like it’s more important than ever to celebrate our joy, considering all of the antisemitism that’s happening,” she says. We want to live our life in a joyful way.
Source: Hanukkah celebrations inspire Jewish joy despite war and increasing antisemitism
Hosting Dinner at NuRoots, a Young Adult Initiative on Los Angeles, and the Role of the Community in Hanukkah
Cuellar is hosting people she knows well and people she has just met through a program organized by the group OneTable and the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles’ young adult initiative called NuRoots.
“The ninth prong is what we call a shamash candle, and that is the helper candle,” says Snyder. “That’s the candle you use to light the rest of the menorah.” The role of the community is seen by me as the shamash.
She says a Jewish value that is prominent in Hanukkah is hosting. “So we wanted to empower our community to do that, not only as a participant but to actively do that to host others in their home.”
NuRoots and OneTable are helping hosts pay for the food at more than two dozen dinners around Los Angeles on Friday night. They jokingly refer to these as “Shabbanukkah” meals — a mashup of the words Shabbat (another word for Sabbath, or the Jewish day of rest) and Hanukkah.