Power of community on full display during Hanukkah celebrations

It has been two years since any type of in-person gatherings were allowed to celebrate Hanukkah.

Hanukkah, otherwise known as The Festival of Lights, kicked off officially on Sunday.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all Hanukkah celebrations were done virtually in 2020. While some communities are sticking with the online setting this year, other communities have decided to unite together in a safe manner.

Rabbi Jeremy Parnes, who’s based out of Beth Jacob Synagogue in Regina, said being together in the community again and seeing real faces brings him much joy.

“You can imagine, it makes such a big difference,” Parnes said. “The ones that do join us begin to appreciate the power of community when you get together in person.”

Parnes said only fully vaccinated community members would be allowed to do any in-person celebrations in 2021.

While some members of the community are sticking online, Parnes still looks at it through a positive lens.

“It has allowed for people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to be there with us to join us online, and that has been really good,” Parnes said.

The Jewish holiday celebrates the miracle of light that took place more than 2,200 years ago.

Jewish tradition states after the Maccabees’ victory over the Greeks, a small amount of oil that was only supposed to last for one day in the temple burned for eight days.

Hanukkah lasts for eight days, with a candle getting lit each day.

“The celebration is one where we get together, and at some point, we will light candles,” Parnes said. “Everybody brings their own menorah for Hanukkah.

“When you come together in community, that’s a lot of candles and a lot of lights, and it’s lovely.”

There’s also the singing aspect that the community isn’t afraid to shy away from. Add on different assortments of food, and everything easily comes together.

“We sing together songs for that time of the season. We sit and enjoy food together, and because of Hanukkah, there’s zero calories, needless to say,” Parnes said.

The main purpose for Parnes and the rest of the communities celebrating Hanukkah is to create a positive experience as opposed to a negative one.

“The lighting of those candles and, of course, the other celebrations that will be coming on for the rest of the season for other faiths, my hope is that it brings more light into the world and helps to bring us closer together as opposed to pulling us further apart,” he said.