Hanukkah begins tonight

[AJL]

I know this is a very tense and difficult time for many of us. We have always acknowledged holidays on this board like Christmas, Hanukkah, Diwali, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Easter, Eid, Ramadan, and more. Because of that, I wanted to continue that custom today.

There are some cities who have chosen not to hold their public menorah lighting for fear of inciting antisemitic actions or being seen as supporting a government and its actions that they do not align with. But Israelis are Arabs, Muslims, Druze, Bedouin, Christians, Jews, and every flavor in between. Not one of those citizens is responsible for the actions of their radical government. The millions of Palestinians who are in fear of losing their lives at any moment to constant bombing by Israel deserve nothing less than a safe place to live with full human rights and are not responsible for the violent actions of their governing organization. Every civilian caught in the mayhem seeks only to live in peace among each other. Nothing more and nothing less. 

So, I want to focus on the Hanukkah story that a miracle happened (whether you know the real story of Hanukkah or not) and the concept of light being shined onto darkness. When I light my candles tonight and every night until the end of this holiday, I do so with a prayer for peace and safety for everyone at war. For every Palestinian, for every Israeli, for every hostage, for every detainee in an Israeli prison, for each person on this board with family in the Middle East, for each person here who is hurting or scared or may have lost hope. 

Chag sameach Chanukkah

[brooklyn]

Happy Hanukkah!

I saw this posted elsewhere, and my non-Jewish family is participating:



Please consider adding more light to the holidays and show love for your Jewish friends in these times of rising antisemitism. Let us know we are not alone. Project Menorah is a grassroots movement encouraging non-Jews to place a menorah, along with their other holiday decorations, in their windows this December in fellowship with Jewish friends and neighbors. THANK YOU. Visit the website to learn more: [https://www.projectmenorah.com/](https://www.projectmenorah.com/?fbclid=IwAR0glSaASW4WZ3blF6OTvaaFoVlpBZy7oF1hgjnMb81WoMOHhUe3ykQwk8Q)

[penguingrrl]

Happy Hanukkah to those who celebrate!

[StrawberryBlondie]

brooklyn thanks for your post. I was about to post whether it would be weird as a non-Jewish family to bring out our menorah when we have all our Christmas decorations out... I'm honestly not 100% sure why we have one or when we got it but we do, and I've been thinking this week about bringing it out.

[BlondeSpiders]

Ok, I'm gonna be "that guy."

Where is the line between support and appropriation? I absolutely don't question the goodwill behind a movement like this, but something about it feels off to me. Am I being silly?

[brooklyn]

Dec 7, 2023 18:46:16 GMT -5 BlondeSpiders said:

Ok, I'm gonna be "that guy."

Where is the line between support and appropriation? I absolutely don't question the goodwill behind a movement like this, but something about it feels off to me. Am I being silly?

I’m specifically not lighting a real menorah since that seems like appropriation to me. My kid attends a Jewish preschool and the rabbi is the one who shared about project menorah so I feel like it’s an appropriate way to show support. My 4 year old keeps asking how we’re “celebrating” Hanukkah, and other than showing up at public menorah lightings to support and be with friends, we’re not.

[AJL]

Dec 7, 2023 18:46:16 GMT -5 BlondeSpiders said:

Ok, I'm gonna be "that guy."

Where is the line between support and appropriation? I absolutely don't question the goodwill behind a movement like this, but something about it feels off to me. Am I being silly?

It’s not appropriation until you claim to be a Jew and start telling other Jews what to do with their Jewishness or how to be Jewish. If you want to light a real menorah, then go for it. Just don’t put lit candles in the window. Fire hazard and everything, you know.

Signed,
A Jew

[BlondeSpiders]

Dec 7, 2023 18:57:35 GMT -5 AJL said:

Dec 7, 2023 18:46:16 GMT -5 BlondeSpiders said:

Ok, I'm gonna be "that guy."

Where is the line between support and appropriation? I absolutely don't question the goodwill behind a movement like this, but something about it feels off to me. Am I being silly?

It’s not appropriation until you claim to be a Jew and start telling other Jews what to do with their Jewishness or how to be Jewish. If you want to light a real menorah, then go for it. Just don’t put lit candles in the window. Fire hazard and everything, you know.

Signed,
A Jew

Thank you, I appreciate your thoughts.

[sonrisa]

Thank you, AJL, for this post. It reminded me to reach out to my neighborhood group chat with a Happy Hanukkah message just before sunset.

[fryjack2]

This post made me cry. Beautiful words and sentiment AJL.

Happy Hanukkah to all our Jewish posters. May your festivities be filled with family, friends, love, and peace.

[erbear]

@@

On this day where I had to suspend an 8th grader for heinous, anti-semitic comments, I'm grateful to have a Jewish community here, even if it's just on the internet. 

I just posted on Facebook how unexpectedly touched I am (like...I cried) to see so many of my non-Jewish friends post messages on Facebook tonight.

[AJL]

Dec 7, 2023 19:37:01 GMT -5 fryjack2 said:

This post made me cry. Beautiful words and sentiment AJL.

Happy Hanukkah to all our Jewish posters. May your festivities be filled with family, friends, love, and peace.

I think about you and your family so much these days. I know we have differing viewpoints but I also hope you know that I want much of what you want, too. I don't know how to get there, but I know that it's only possible if we (the general "we") focus on what makes us so much alike rather than what we think separates us. I have learned much from you and your experience. Thank you for always having the courage to share your thoughts. <3

[jackie011]

Happy Hanukkah, and AJL I echo so many of your sentiments. It’s always been about spreading light in a dark time, and sometimes that’s needed more than others. Light and PEACE are the ultimate gifts this season.

[pixy0stix]

Happy Hanukkah!

[fryjack2]

Dec 7, 2023 19:44:54 GMT -5 AJL said:

Dec 7, 2023 19:37:01 GMT -5 fryjack2 said:

This post made me cry. Beautiful words and sentiment AJL.

Happy Hanukkah to all our Jewish posters. May your festivities be filled with family, friends, love, and peace.

I think about you and your family so much these days. I know we have differing viewpoints but I also hope you know that I want much of what you want, too. I don't know how to get there, but I know that it's only possible if we (the general "we") focus on what makes us so much alike rather than what we think separates us. I have learned much from you and your experience. Thank you for always having the courage to share your thoughts. <3

<3. I appreciate this and that you continue to post in these threads.  Although I admit that what comes to mind when I start to read one of your posts is you saying to me, "I am not your friend.  I don't owe you a rational discussion."  It was weeks ago, and I understand why you said it, and I have to pause before posting a lot because my emotions are also all over the place.  You are right-we both want peace for our group of people within this big world of people.  And it's only possible if we see each other has fellow humans and can have discussions, even if we have to step back for awhile before having them.  

[AJL]

Dec 7, 2023 21:52:03 GMT -5 fryjack2 said:

Dec 7, 2023 19:44:54 GMT -5 AJL said:

I think about you and your family so much these days. I know we have differing viewpoints but I also hope you know that I want much of what you want, too. I don't know how to get there, but I know that it's only possible if we (the general "we") focus on what makes us so much alike rather than what we think separates us. I have learned much from you and your experience. Thank you for always having the courage to share your thoughts. <3

<3. I appreciate this and that you continue to post in these threads.  Although I admit that what comes to mind when I start to read one of your posts is you saying to me, "I am not your friend.  I don't owe you a rational discussion."  It was weeks ago, and I understand why you said it, and I have to pause before posting a lot because my emotions are also all over the place.  You are right-we both want peace for our group of people within this big world of people.  And it's only possible if we see each other has fellow humans and can have discussions, even if we have to step back for awhile before having them.  

Oof. That was not my finest moment by any means. That was a hurtful thing to say to you and I'm sorry for that. I think at the time I was very angry and hurt and scared. I really relate to your comment about having emotions be all over the place.

I sometimes think I'm in a spot to be more rational about what's happening and then I read something particularly inflammatory (not here and not from you. It's usually a sound bite on social media that's designed to rile up people), and I'm back to feeling angry again. I'm so tired of feeling angry. I'm sure you are too. 

But I am trying. 

[mrsukyankee]

This is what I posted on FB and I wish this for all of you here:
Hanukkah begins this week and with the rise of antisemitism this year, I want to send some well wishes and tons of hugs to my friends.
May this time bring love, joy and moments of celebration to you and your loved ones.


I don't have a lot of decorations up and I'll add one light each night to celebrate with all around the world.

[imimahoney]

Happy Chanukah ❤️

[fancynewbeesly]

@@@@@

I want to say I am proud of DDs school. Our town isn’t Jewish. I think we maybe one of the few families that are. And they still are being thoughtful and inclusive.

The holiday gift fair was this week (before Hanukkah started). DD bought presents and it was wrapped in snowman bags/paper. They had a spirit day today-wear blue and white for Hanukkah.

Our old town, which was more Jewish, is less inclusive and thoughtful.

[basilosaurus]

Beautifully said.

While I don't celebrate, being from south Florida at a non religious private school meant we spent equal amount of time on Christian and Jewish holidays with a not insignificant portion dedicated to other religious holiday traditions as many of my classmates and good friends were first generation Americans from all over.

I will celebrate with any and all, enjoy the food, respect the traditions, send positive thoughts to friends, families, strangers. My heart goes out to anyone feeling threatened for their beliefs of any kind any where.

[Saudade]

Happy Hanukkah!

[loira]

Happy Hannukah!

[icedcoffee]

We lit ours last night and read some Hannukah books. The world is so dark. May the light of Hannukah help brighten the way.

We're usually 50/50 on lighting it. Me and the @ are catholic, but my H was raised Jewish. But this year it feels especially important to take a moment and say a prayer to whatever god or lack of god we believe in.

ETA:  My SIL was saying she's scared of putting up her annual Hannukah decor this year and that made me super sad.

[fryjack2]

AJL. Re your first paragraph- don’t give it another thought. We all have our moments and I’ve read your contributions here for years to know that a valid emotional response is not representative of who you are 99% of the time. And it’s ok to be angry and express that emotion.



As for your second paragraph, this is an appropriate time for people to pull a message board cliche and say you feel sorry for my husband. Ha! I even do! I’m like Jekyll and Hyde these days. Laughing about something my kid did one minute, crying over images in Gaza and the West Bank and feeling despair another, and being very angry and closed off or ornery the next over stupid shit the media spews or reports and wanting to scream at everyone for being able to go about their normal life while trapped kids are being bombed and hate is on the rise.

.

I’m sure you can read the angry tone in many of my posts. It’s directed at no one on here, but a general anger at world leaders for what they continue to allow. Not just in the Middle East, although obviously that’s where the majority of my anger stems from now.

[breezy8407]

Happy Hannukah!