JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Jewish Community is celebrating the second night of Hanukkah.
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The big menorah outside the Jewish Community Alliance, called a Chanukkiah, is burning bright for the second night of Hanukkah.
Hundreds of people surrounded the menorah to light it at sundown Thursday and celebrate the festival of lights.
It means a lot to Nicole Brown, Board Chair of the JCA, that so many people showed up to celebrate Hanukkah.
“I love that we have members that are Jewish and non Jewish that come to the celebration every year, and that we have the freedom here in Duval County in Jacksonville, Florida to celebrate your religion and express it the way that you choose to,” said Brown.
Take a look at the lighting below.
Celebrating Hanukkah every year is a tradition for Kelsi Hasden and her family.
“We’ve come every year for as many years as I can remember. My oldest is eight, and they love coming,” Hasden explained. “They love the hot dogs and latkes and all the games that they have here, being able to be Jewish in a Jewish space, and, you know, just have a really great time.”
Adam Chaskin, CEO of the Jewish Community Alliance, says the menorah lighting is a way to help families celebrate the festival of lights. He explains the origin of the holiday.
“Hanukkah was 1000s of years ago when some of the Israelis that lived in Israel at the time the Jews were being attacked. There was only enough oil in the temple, the sacred temple that was destroyed to last one night, and by a miracle, it lasted eight nights,” Chaskin said.
Sarita Weltman and her family made sure to attend the celebration. She shares what the holiday means to her.
“We light the menorah and it shows like the light and the darkness, and we’re having fun playing dreidel,” Weltman said. “And I think it’s important to have this holiday so we can continue to have the miracles that we believe in, and spread the light to others as well.”
The holiday is even more significant currently, according to Chaskin.
“It’s an example of a shining light on all of the nations, which we try to do on a daily basis here at the JCA,” Chaskin explained. “And throughout the community of shining light and bring joy to this world, where, unfortunately, there are so many issues going on that sometimes take away from that joy.”
For Hasden the eight day holiday is one that signifies coming together.
“I really enjoy the ritual of lighting the menorah and saying the blessings. I love cooking together. I love, you know, only having to open one present at a time,” Hasden said.
Weltman says with all the negativity in the world, celebrating Hanukkah gives her hope.
“It’s something like a light within yourself,” said Weltman. “I always say, inspire yourself to inspire others, and Hanukkah is also a time where you do celebrate, but you’re doing good deeds and you’re volunteering in the community and just having a good time.”
With anti-Jewish incidents at an all time high, Chaskin says Hanukkah’s meaning is even more important.
“Jew hatred has been on the rise for the last several years, and people have felt more emboldened to come forward with their feelings in that way,” Chaskin said. “It ties in with many of the programs we’ve been doing here in Jacksonville, whether it’s our together against hate programming with our wonderful partner, with the First Coast YMCA, where every month, we’re focusing on different forms of hate, again, trying to shine light on the issues and help educate people.”
Hasden says while the increase in anti-Semitism is scary, having a safe place to celebrate her faith means a lot.
“When we’re standing outside lighting a giant menorah, and you know, the entire community is invited, which is the whole point of the holiday, and still being able to know that this is a safe space, in spite of all of the scary things that are going on outside these walls,” said Hasden
Hanukkah will continue for six more nights and its last night is Jan. 2.
This year the first night of Hanukkah fell on Christmas for the first time in 19 years. The date of Jewish holidays like Hanukkah change every year because they follow the lunar calendar.