Jews worldwide will celebrate the Hanukkah festival of freedom amid Israel-Hamas war

Jews worldwide will gather around their Hanukkah menorahs on Thursday to light candles celebrating freedom as Israel continues its war against Hamas following the attack on Oct. 7.

The eight-day holiday, known as the Festival of Lights, commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago after a revolt by Jews led by Judah Maccabee against their Syrian-Greek oppressors trying to assimilate Jews into their religion.

The Talmud says the temple's menorah was believed to have enough oil to burn for a single day but burned for eight days.

This season, the festival comes as Israel is fighting a war against the Gaza-based Hamas, whose fighters attacked Israel on Oct. 7 by land, air and sea. In the assault, an estimated 1,200 people were killed and more were injured as Hamas raped and kidnapped hundreds of people. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry says more than 15,500 Palestinians have been killed, 70% of them women and children, and upward of 41,000 have been injured.

The war continued this week after a ceasefire that allowed Hamas to free hostages in exchange for Israel releasing people convicted of crimes.

Hanukkah comes amid Israel-Hamas war

Hanukkah celebrations this years cannot be separated from the war or rise in antisemitism across the country and world, Orangetown Jewish Center Rabbi Craig Scheff said.

"We cannot gather to celebrate, gather to learn, gather to pray without acknowledging the context we have," Scheff said. "There is a sense such broken-heartedness for the Jewish people and our communities and bring a little comfort to our brothers and sisters amidst all the suffering."

Scheff said the violence and hate have been part of "the state of being Jewish throughout the centuries," dismissing the scenario of "Israel the powerful against the Palestinians as weak as out of context."

He said many see world Jewry of 16 million people fighting to survive against enemies of Israel and those who propagandize the evil of antisemitism.

The word Hanukkah, he said, "means dedication and bringing the light against the darkness."

Light the night: Menorah lightings in the Lower Hudson Valley

Rabbi Lester Bronstein agreed the deaths and war with Hamas give Hanukkah a different feeling. Bronstein has been the rabbi at Bet Am Shalom in White Plains since 1989. He's also a member of the White Plains Religious Leaders Association and the New York Board of Rabbis. He's a past president of the Westchester Board of Rabbis.

"Hanukkah for most Jews, at least in America, has always been a kind of fun, cute lovely, fun family holiday," he said. "The underlying theme has always been our willingness to identify ourselves as the Jewish people and be proud."

Bronstein said, "With the rising antisemitism and with us facing all the many terrible humanitarian challenges regarding our people's war with Gaza, this is a year those darker and more difficult themes come to the fore."

Despite the hard times and challenges, Bronstein said the Jewish people need to "continue rejoicing who we are and what believe in."

Police on alert for potential violence

With a large Jewish population across the region, police will be aware of the celebrations. Menorah lightings are planned - including at the Rockland County office building in New City and in Nyack on Main Street.

Rockland and Westchester police forces have been on heightened alert since the Israel-Hamas war broke out. Since the war started, bias incidents against Jews and Muslims have also increased across the region and country.

The Rockland Jewish Federation and Foundation has instituted a security plan with other federations and Jewish institutions in Rockland, New York City, and across the region.

While police say there have been no known threats across the region, precautions continue.

Rockland Sheriff Louis Falco said there have been no known threats and his department is monitoring daily. He said heightened patrols started after the Oct. 7 attack continue.

Protests and rallies supporting the Palestinians and Israelis killed have taken place, as well as protests against Jewish businesses and Hamas. Several rallies - including one urging a ceasefire - occurred in Rockland.

Ramapo, which has a large and diverse Jewish population, will have increased visibility around Jewish institutions, like schools, and synagogues, and in neighborhoods.

"For the holidays, we always increase our patrols, especially around houses of worship and religious establishments," Ramapo Police Detective Sgt. Michael Higgins said.

Higgins said he's not aware of any reports of people concerned about publicly displaying their lit menorahs in their windows or on their property.

The Jewish community will not be intimidated by threats, said Ethan Erlich, a retired NYPD officer who heads security at the Rockland Jewish Federation and Foundation.

"The Jewish people have been celebrating Hanukkah publicly for over 2,200 years and we will continue to do so, especially to bring light to these dark times," Erlich said.. "Our community will not be intimidated. We are aware of the current threat environment, and coordinate with local, state, and federal law enforcement on an ongoing basis."

Steve Lieberman covers government, breaking news, courts, police, and investigations. Reach him at slieberm@lohud.com Twitter: @lohudlegal

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This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Hanukkah festival of freedom to be celebrated amid Israel-Hamas war