'The darkest Hanukkah': Rabbi gives message of light at Fort Collins menorah lighting

Before Monday, Fort Collins residents Benjamin and Esther Goldman had never attended the annual menorah lighting ceremony Old Town Square.

They've lived in Fort Collins for about 10 years, but they aren't religious, Esther Goldman said.

This year, it's different.

"It's a different time, after the events of Oct. 7," Benjamin Goldman said.

On that date, Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking another 240 hostage. There's been war ever since, and an estimated 18,000 Palestinians have died, including civilians.

Reverberations from the conflict are present in the United States.

While American Jews aren't experiencing the fighting directly, the attacks and ensuing fallout in the United States have become personal for them.

During Monday's ceremony on the fifth night of Hanukkah, Rabbi Yerachmiel Gorelik of Chabad Jewish Center of Northern Colorado seemed to articulate what many in the crowd of 200 or more said they were feeling:

"What caught so many of us by surprise was what happened afterwards, the explosion of antisemitism throughout the world, here in America, on campuses," he said.

More: What celebrating Hanukkah means amid rising antisemitism: 'A palpable sense of fear'

Esther Goldman said she doesn't identify religiously as a Jew, but she does identify with many Americans of her generation who feel under attack now after believing they would never witness things that generations past did.

"Our grandparents went through things we thought were relegated to them," she said.

Still, Benjamin Goldman said Fort Collins feels very safe.

Gorelik thanked the community for supporting the Jewish community here.

"We have experienced such warmth and love from the community of Fort Collins," Gorelik said.

"We're going to get through this, and if anything, the menorah and the lights teaches us this lesson. We've been through this before, right?" he said. "It is not the first time, and once again we'll prevail because that's what happened in Hanukkah. A small group decided to rise up against their oppressors, and with their tremendous faith they managed to overcome all the odds and all the darkness."

Throughout the ceremony, the theme of overcoming in the face of antisemitism was woven together with prayers and support for Israel.

Emil Eidan, who moved to Fort Collins just four months ago from Michigan but lived in Israel, shared with the crowd how he and his wife lost family and colleagues in the Oct. 7 attacks.

"This is the darkest Hanukkah for me personally. All the candlelight in the world can't compensate for the rivers of sorrow and agony," Eidan said. "I pray for all the hostages to return home and that the IDF soldiers return safe and sound to their families. There's no doubt that a new Israel will emerge from the trauma of Oct. 7. I hope that the image of this new Israel will be worthy of the sacrifice. I hope the Jewish world will be worthy of her sacrifice."

He said the attacks seemed to unleash "an unimaginable rise in antisemitism, as if the smell of Jewish blood spilled on Oct. 7, by the gallons, gathered a school of sharks filled with hatred on American campuses and all around the country."

He said many of his friends at the University of Michigan, both students and faculty, stayed at home due to antisemitic chants on campus.

"I've had people come up to me here tonight, saying, 'It's just so hard to live in a dark world like this,' " Gorelik said. "But you have to remember ... a little bit of light dispels a tremendous amount of darkness."

"So while it may seem overwhelming, the power of light, the power of faith, the power of goodness is far stronger than that of darkness and of evil. ... We have to believe that things will turn around and good will prevail and we'll be able to bring up our children in a much kinder and brighter place."

On a night with some levity and joy, as well, Mayor Jeni Arndt lit the shamash, the service lamp atop the menorah. Four families and a group of students came up to light five more candles for the fifth night of Hanukkah.

Children came on stage to sing Hanukkah songs, and the crowd joined in. When it was done, everyone was invited to eat latkes and donuts while watching on-stage entertainment by fire spinners Fahrenheit 360.

Amber Crisp, who said she came out to show solidarity with her community and support Israel, also brought her dog, Fern, a crowd favorite in a blue "Happy Pawnukkah" T-shirt.

Arndt was joined on stage by former mayors Wade Troxell and Ray Martinez, City Council member Shirley Peel, Reps. Andrew Boesenecker and Cathy Kipp, Larimer County Commissioner Jody Shadduck-McNally, Fort Collins Police Chief Jeff Swoboda, Poudre Fire Authority Chief Derek Bergsten and Larimer County Sheriff John Feyen.

About eight Fort Collins Police Service officers in total were on hand, with two police cars flanking Old Town Square.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Fort Collins menorah lighting ceremony draws show of solidarity