Israel-Gaza war looms over Beaufort Hanukkah celebration. ‘We’re all in this together’
Rabbi Mendel Hertz says the message of the Jewish festival of lights known as Hanukkah is especially relevant in 2023 in light of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas that began Oct. 7.
While soldiers are fighting on the front lines, Hertz said, others must wage spiritual war to bring light to the world.
“We’re all in the battle together,” Hertz said.
Hertz’s comments came Thursday at Waterfront Park in Beaufort, at a public menorah lighting that drew about 75 people who celebrated the first night of the eight-night Jewish holiday. They sang traditional songs and listened to a blessing by Rabbi Mendel and watched as he climbed a ladder to reach candles atop the 9-foot-tall, multi-branched candelabra. After igniting a “starter” light, the rabbi then lit a single candle, symbolizing the first night of the festival.
“Happy Hanukkah everyone!” Hertz said.
Hanukkah is an 8-day Jewish festival marking the miraculous victory of the Maccabees over the Seleucidian Greek occupiers in the year 139 BCE. After recapturing Jerusalem’s Holy Temple, which had been converted into a place of idol worship, they searched for pure oil with which to light the Temple menorah. They found just enough to burn for one day, but miraculously it burned for eight days until more oil could be brought.
The charge of everybody, the rabbi said at the Beaufort menorah lighting, is to bring more light and kindness and goodness into the world to tip the scale in favor of light over darkness, good over negative.
“And that is Hanukkah,” Hertz said.
This is the third year that Bluffton-based Chabad of Greater Hilton Head, a Jewish outreach organization, organized the menorah lighting in Beaufort. Another public menorah lighting was held at Lowcountry Celebration Park in Hilton Head Thursday.
This year, Hanukkah started at nightfall Thursday. It ends with nightfall on December 15.
On each of the eight nights of Hanukkah, Jewish people light special menorahs, adding another flame each night, until on the eighth night all eight flames are burning brightly. The lighting takes place at home, in a doorway or near a window, and is performed after brief blessings are recited.
Communal menorah lightings are often held in public squares such as the pavilion at Waterfront Park in Beaufort.
After reciting a blessing after the lighting of the candle, those who attended sang songs such as Maoz Tsur—”Rock of Ages” in Hebrew. “Ma’oz Tzur” is a 13th-century Jewish liturgical poem that celebrates how the Jews survived four enemies of their past.
Some residents took pictures in front the menorah and clapped their hands during the upbeat songs. Members of the Beaufort City Council, including interim Mayor Mike McFee, Councilman Neil Lipsitz and City Manager Scott Marshall also were in attendance. In October, the City Council approved a resolution in support of a gathering in Waterfront Park that was held to show support for Israel.
