Hanukkah has taken on a new meaning this year for many in the Jewish community after Israel was attacked by terrorist group Hamas on Oct. 7.
Hanukkah, which translates to “dedication” and begins on Dec. 7 this year, 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 BCE.”Hanukkah is a story of survival against great odds,” said Fersko, author of “We Need to Talk About Antisemitism.” “It’s about the Jewish people persevering even when our detractors seem overwhelming.This year, Hanukkah will be celebrated amid a backdrop of growing tensions in the U.S. related to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
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.
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I picked up these parts
happy holidays