Chanukah is one of my favorite times of year. What started as an excitement for presents and treats evolved into a love for the traditions they accompany - coming together and singing the beautiful nigunim (tunes) of the Chanukah blessings and songs, inviting friends and family over to stink up the kitchen with the smell of frying latkes, and working with partners to put on candle lighting events for the community.
This year, we are looking forward to gathering at Bucks County Kehillah’s Chanukah at Temple Judea, Center City Kehillah’s Chanukah at the Weitzman, and Northeast Kehillah’s Chanukah at KleinLife.
Amidst the festivities in Greater Philadelphia, our thoughts are still with Israel. How can we come together with joy and festivities amidst the ongoing horrors our brothers and sisters in Israel are enduring every day? How do we sing our songs and light our menorahs for all to see with antisemitism on the rise?
Simply put, it is who we are. We, the Jewish people, respond to adversity, violence, and hatred with light, joy, and song. Time and again, we have been targeted, attacked, expelled and worse - and each time, we refuse to go away.
As we prepare for Chanukah, we are reminded that the eight nights are testament to the survival of the Jewish people. We will once again come together as a community throughout Greater Philadelphia, lighting the menorah to emanate brightness in this time of darkness and hate.
With this in mind, I ask of you – let’s show the world who we are. Light those menorahs, fry those latkes, spin those dreidels. And we’ll see you for candle lighting.
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Learn about the Jewish Federation’s neighborhood programming by clicking here.
