3 minute read
Anniversary and Chanukkah celebrations
Charles Flum, President
On Dec. 11, Naples Jewish Congregation will celebrate its 25th anniversary. Details are being taken care of so go to naplesjewish congregation.org for the latest updates as well as how to buy tickets. Oh, and we will also be celebrating Chanukkah.
Another big event is coming up on March 10. Listen Up! A Jewish a cappella music group from Chicago will entertain us during our Artist in Residence program. They were here a few years ago and wowed the sellout crowd. In order to accommodate all the people, it will be held at Federation’s Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center this year. For more information and to get your tickets before they sell out, go to naplesjewishcongregation.org. Ticket sales will begin in January.
Rabbi Herman has created a once a month wonderful adult education program before a light dinner and Shabbat services. You can find the topics for this free program on naplesjewish congregation.org.
You get the gist now. The place to go to find out what is happening in our congregation can be found at naples jewishcongregation.org. You can also search for us under naplesjewishcongregation on Facebook. You will find information such as: services schedule, who our congregational leaders are, how to join our synagogue, and so much more.
Going back to Chanukah, why do we celebrate it? No, it is not because the oil lasted for eight days. That story was written 400 years after the Maccabees overthrew the Greek overlords. The answer is found in the book of Maccabees. According to the story there, the Jews were fighting so much that they had no time for Sukkot. When they liberated the Temple, it was decreed that they should then (around December) celebrate the eight-day holiday. That is what evolved into the Chanukah celebration today. Historically, and perhaps most importantly, it was the first time anyone had ever fought a war for religious freedom.
Chanukah also helps us remember that when our rights are taken away, we Jews can fight. That is something which we nearly lost in the 2000-year diaspora. As Israel reminds us today, we Jews are a tough people. We can defend ourselves when necessary. Hopefully (though, unfortunately, I do not hold out much hope), there will come a time when we do not have to defend ourselves, especially as there are so few others who will stand by our side.
So, it is fitting that we celebrate our 25th anniversary and Chanukah together as both show Am Israel Chi, the people of Israel live!