LIFESTYLE
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A DARK YEAR ENDS IN LIGHT This year’s celebration of Hanukkah will be different because of the pandemic, but it still gives us pause to feel grateful BY STEPHANIE WHITTAKER
Photo tomertu/Shutterstock.com
EVERY YEAR AT HANUKK AH, Susan Schwartz and Markus Martin go to a party at the home of friends. “There are usually between 20 and 30 people there, about seven families,” Susan says. “Each family brings a menorah and lights the candles on it, and a beautiful light fills the room.” That “beautiful light” is the whole point of the annual Jewish holiday that occurs around the time of the winter solstice. Hanukkah, the festival of lights, commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem more than two millennia ago. During
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the Maccabean Revolt, a small group of Jews successfully drove out the Syrian-Greek oppressors who ruled Israel and were trying to impose their customs and religion on the Jewish people. After reclaiming the Temple, the Jews had enough consecrated oil to burn the sacred lamp for one day, but it burned for eight. The eight-day celebration of Hanukkah commemorates this miracle. The symbolism of the light bears new poignancy in 2020, a year that’s been metaphorically dark because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Many Jewish holidays are centred around celebrating with friends and family,” says Susan. “This year will be different because we won’t be with others, but Markus and I will be together and we will feel happy and grateful for the fact that we’re well and have made it to another holiday.” Home in Canada’s publisher, Sharon Azrieli, says Hanukkah, which takes place this year from December 10 to 18, will be celebrated on Zoom by many Jews. “We did Passover and Rosh Hashanah on Zoom earlier this year,” she says.
