{"id":45587,"date":"2024-12-13T01:33:38","date_gmt":"2024-12-13T09:33:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/?p=45587"},"modified":"2024-12-11T17:28:40","modified_gmt":"2024-12-12T01:28:40","slug":"celebrate-share-light","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/2024\/12\/13\/celebrate-share-light\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrate, share light"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hanukkah is a holiday made joyous by its origins in the victory of the Jewish people over our oppressors and the liberation by the Maccabees of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Now, thousands of years later, over eight nights, we light candles to honour our brave ancestors and to recognize the fortitude, across the millennia, of the Jewish people. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The meaning of Hanukkah has acquired a new relevance: the bravery demonstrated by the people of Israel \u2013 especially since Oct. 7, 2023.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It has been more than 15 months since, in the most shameful and grievous fashion imaginable, Hamas deliberately started a war, placing the people of Israel \u2013 and of Gaza and the entire region \u2013 in jeopardy. Israel continues to defend its residents and citizens from terror on multiple fronts, facing both assaults from Hamas and unprecedented attacks by hundreds of rockets from Iran-backed Hezbollah. Israelis and the global Jewish community continue to call for the release of 101 hostages who remain captive in Gaza. Families across Israel and the world continue to adjust to life without the 1,200 Israelis \u2013 and victims from 30 other nations \u2013 systematically murdered on Oct. 7.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Yet, amid the chaos and terror of daily rocket attacks, the spirit and fortitude of the people of Israel remains as strong as ever.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This year, as we light our candles over the eight nights of Hanukkah, we contemplate the history and symbolism of our Jewish traditions, and we have an opportunity to consider their meanings in our current reality. Just as we light our hanukkiyah with its eight, equally proportioned candles, we remember Jews have an admirable track record in fighting for social equality, and we consider where, today, there are inequalities to be addressed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"photo<\/a>
This year, as we light our Hanukkah candles, we contemplate the history and symbolism of our Jewish traditions, and we have an opportunity to consider their meanings in our current reality. (photo from pexels.com)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As we add candlelight to our homes, we remember our age-old obligation to bring light to our families, friends and neighbours. We encourage well-rounded education, free from hate, for all children; we advocate for a safe and welcoming learning environment for our post-secondary students and faculty; and we support the most vulnerable among us.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There is much to do \u2013 what will your focus be over the coming year? To what cause will your efforts be directed?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Can we hope that Gaza will be freed from the terrorist influence of Hamas? Will Lebanon emerge from under the sway of Iran-backed Hezbollah? Will Israel\u2019s adversaries stop their war against the Jewish state?<\/p>\n

Will our focus be on our own family, our close friends, our community, a charitable cause? Will we share the Jewish values we cherish, the triumph of light over darkness, freedom over oppression, and the importance of upholding one\u2019s identity and beliefs?<\/p>\n

And can we help our fellow Canadians uphold the values we hold dearest? How much light can we share this Hanukkah season?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s find out.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Chag sameach.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Judy Zelikovitz<\/b> is vice-president, university and local partner services, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA).<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hanukkah is a holiday made joyous by its origins in the victory of the Jewish people over our oppressors and the liberation by the Maccabees of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Now, thousands of years later, over eight nights, we light candles to honour our brave ancestors and to recognize the fortitude, across the millennia, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[21997,458,687,4361,21777,3107,4330,9779,22725,20546,1774],"class_list":["post-45587","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-op-ed","tag-candlelighting","tag-cija","tag-gaza","tag-hamas","tag-hanukkah","tag-hezbollah","tag-israel","tag-mourning","tag-oct-7","tag-reflections","tag-terrorism"],"blocksy_meta":{"styles_descriptor":{"styles":{"desktop":"","tablet":"","mobile":""},"google_fonts":[],"version":8}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45587","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=45587"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45587\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45587"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=45587"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=45587"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}