Readers: Share your Hanukkah memories with us
Plus, send us photos of your family menorah.
Dec. 7 marked the first night of Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, an eight-day festival marked by nightly menorah lighting, prayers, and holiday foods.
The holiday commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid Empire. According to the Talmud, one of Judaism’s most central texts, Judah Maccabee and the other Jews who took part in the rededication of the Second Temple found a small lamp containing only one night’s worth of oil at the temple. Miraculously, the flames and oil lasted for eight nights.
The Hanukkah celebration revolves around the lighting of the nine-branched menorah. On each night, another candle is added to the menorah after sundown (the ninth candle, called the shamash (“helper”), is used to light the other candles). Jews typically recite blessings during the candle lighting and display the menorah in a window as a reminder of the miracle that inspired the holiday.
This year’s holiday, however, is unlike the cheerful celebrations of years past. It comes at a particularly sensitive time, as Jews worldwide worry about the Israel-Hamas war and a spike in antisemitism. Many Jewish people in Massachusetts are increasingly cautious as they celebrate this season, when a menorah in the window may attract attention, according to WBUR.
At the city’s 40th annual menorah lighting in the Boston Common on Dec. 7, elected officials and faith leaders emphasized the strength of the Jewish community despite the ongoing war.
“We celebrate the faith and the strength of the Jewish community, especially in this moment, especially in this time,” Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said at the event.
We want to see your menorah photos and hear your favorite Hanukkah memories.
Does your menorah have a special and unique story? Was it passed down through generations? What are some of your favorite memories of Hanukkah or lighting the menorah? What do you enjoy most about Hanukkah?
Tell us by filling out the form and submitting a photo or e-mailing us at [email protected], and your response may appear in a future Boston.com article.
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