Chabad of Clinton holds annual menorah lighting

The Chabad of Clinton held its annual menorah lighting to celebrate the sixth night of Hanukkah.

The event - rescheduled to Tuesday due to bad weather on Sunday - offered latkes, donuts, crafts, prizes, and a chocolate gelt drop. But– the energy felt different this year, according to Rabbi Didy Waks.

The event varies from year to year. Sometimes there is live music and other times the Menorah itself is an ice sculpture.

During the pandemic the Chabad teamed up with the Clinton Fire Department to arrange an inaugural gelt drop, whereby chocolate coins were dropped from the fire ladder.  For the third year in a row now this tradition stood firm.

“The event is light-hearted– the kids love it– but it’s also an opportunity to stand in solidarity,” said Waks. “This year it’s extra important to join as a united front.”

United front

The Israel-Hamas war has inflamed tensions and raised concerns among Jews about visible displays of their religion during a time of rising antisemitism.

Clinton Mayor Elizabeth C. Tantillo acknowledged this tension.

“We live in troubled times,” she said, “although we are far from the war our morality requires us to be aware, empathetic, and prayerful.”

The seven lamps on the menorah allude to the branches of human knowledge. They all incline toward the innermost lamp, which represents God.

“The menorah itself is a symbol of light,” said Waks.“How do we respond to darkness? By shining even brighter.”

The Clinton Police Department and New York State Police were present to ensure public safety at the congregation.

Rising antisemitism

The Chabad of Clinton is an independent organization neither affiliated with nor sponsored by Hamilton College. Nonetheless the group includes roughly 120 students per semester.

“We try to remain a nonpolitical entity but the ongoing violence in Israel is something we are very much connected to,” said Didy. “The backlash of antisemitism affects our collective sense of security and belonging.”

Since Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7, and the start of a counteroffensive from Israel, colleges and universities across the United States have been struggling to handle the debate and protests over the war.

As part of the Chabad on Campus network, the organization’s goal is to serve the students and faculty of Hamilton College as well as the local Jewish community.

“Many students feel isolated, alone, fearful, and angry,” said Waks. “On Jodel – a live social media feed that connects users to their local community – anonymous posts are calling for genocide of Jews while (wrongly) claiming that Israel is committing one itself.”

At the menorah lighting Waks acknowledged that the response has by no means been unanimous – Hamilton administrators, professors, and students have all responded in different ways.

“Some have stood with Israeli victims, others have sympathized with the attacker,” said Waks. “The worst response has been silence– it’s that silence that we call the darkness.”

'A little bit of light can go a long way'

Before lighting the Menorah Rabbi Didy Waks gave a speech on the origins of Hanukkah.

“Over 2,000 years ago the Maccabees made clear their intentions to destroy the Jewish identity,” said Waks. “Once they were defeated the Jews went to clean the defiled temple and found the menorah."

According to Jewish faith, after the menorah was lit the flame danced for eight days straight. Hence why the Hanukkah menorah has nine candles: one for each of the eight days, and one to light all the lamps.

“Two months ago– on the fourth night of Hanukkah– the most barbaric attack on the Jews since the Holocaust took place,” continued Waks. “The darkness is undeniable. But, if the story of Hanukkah teaches us anything it’s that a little bit of light can go a long way.”

Moving forward there is a call for collective healing.

But what can regular people do in their everyday lives? Didy recommends being kind, volunteering, and working to create spaces of acceptance for all.

“Little by little we can add more light,” he said. “Even after Hanukkah wraps up.”

This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Antisemitism addressed during local menorah lighting