Jews around the world will gather around their Hanukkah menorahs on Thursday to light candles celebrating freedom as Israel continues its war against Hamas following the October 7 attack.
This eight-day holiday, known as the Festival of Lights, commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago after a Jewish revolt led by Judah Maccabeus against their Syrian-Greek oppressors who are trying to assimilate the Jews into their religion.
The Talmud says that the temple’s menorah contained enough oil to burn for a single day, but it burned for eight days.
This season, the festival takes place as Israel wages a war against Gaza-based Hamas, whose fighters attacked Israel on October 7 by land, air and sea. During the assault, around 1,200 people were killed and others were injured as Hamas raped and kidnapped hundreds of people. THE Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry says more than 15,500 Palestinians have been killed, 70 percent of them women and children, and more than 41,000 injured.
The war continued this week after a ceasefire that allowed Hamas to release hostages in exchange for Israel’s release of those convicted of crimes.
Hanukkah comes amid Israel-Hamas war
Hanukkah celebrations this year cannot be separated from war or the rise of anti-Semitism across the country and world, Orangetown Jewish Center Rabbi Craig Scheff said.
“We cannot gather to celebrate, gather to learn, gather to pray without recognizing the context in which we live,” Scheff said. “There is such a sense of grief for the Jewish people and our communities and it brings some comfort to our brothers and sisters in the midst of all this suffering.”
Scheff said violence and hatred were part of “the state of Jews throughout the centuries,” dismissing the scenario of “mighty Israel versus weak Palestinians out of context.”
He said many see Jews around the world, numbering 16 million, struggling to survive against Israel’s enemies and those who propagandize the scourge of anti-Semitism.
The word Hanukkah, he said, “means dedication and bringing light against darkness.”
Rabbi Lester Bronstein He agrees that the deaths and the war with Hamas make Hanukkah feel different. Bronstein has served as rabbi of Bet Am Shalom in White Plains since 1989. He is also a member of the White Plains Religious Leaders Association and the New York Board of Rabbis. He is a past president of the Westchester Board of Rabbis.
“Hanukkah, for most Jews, at least in America, has always been a kind of fun, cute, fun family holiday,” he said. “The underlying theme has always been our desire to identify and be proud of ourselves as Jewish people.”
Bronstein said: “With anti-Semitism on the rise and as we face all the terrible humanitarian challenges of our people’s war on Gaza, this is the year when darker and more difficult themes return to the fore. foreground. »
Despite the difficult times and challenges, Bronstein said the Jewish people must “continue to rejoice in who we are and what we believe.”
Police on alert for potential violence
With a large Jewish population in the area, police will be aware of the celebrations. Menorah lightings are planned, including at the Rockland County Office Building in New City and in Nyack on Main Street.
Rockland and Westchester police forces are on heightened alert since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas. Since the start of the war, incidents of prejudice against Jews and Muslims have also increased in the region and the country.
THE Jewish Federation and Foundation of Rockland instituted a security plan with other Jewish federations and institutions in Rockland, New York and throughout the region.
Although police say there have been no known threats in the area, precautions continue.
Rockland Sheriff Louis Falco said there are no known threats and his department is monitoring daily. He said reinforced patrols begun after the October 7 attack were continuing.
Demonstrations and gatherings Demonstrations in support of the Palestinians and Israelis killed took place, as well as demonstrations against Jewish businesses and Hamas. Several rallies – including someone who calls for a ceasefire – occurred in Rockland.
Ramapo, which has a large and diverse Jewish population, will benefit from increased visibility around Jewish institutions, such as schools and synagogues, as well as in neighborhoods.
“For the holidays, we always increase our patrols, especially around places of worship and religious establishments,” said Ramapo Police Detective Sgt. Michael Higgins said.
Higgins said he was not aware of any reports of people being concerned about publicly displaying their lit menorahs in their windows or on their property.
Steve Lieberman covers government, breaking news, courts, police and investigations. Contact him at slieberm@lohud.com Twitter: @lohudlegal
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