'Light over darkness': Hanukkah in RI this year is a study in contrasts at a troubling time

With antisemitism on the rise in the United States and Israel at war with Hamas, Hanukkah comes with a different feel for many in and near Rhode Island this year.

"Our hearts are heavy, and it's hard to celebrate," acknowledged Rabbi Sarah Mack, of Temple Beth-El in Providence. "It is also a good moment to reflect on how we can bring light into the world because it's particularly broken right now."

"Some people have a little bit more of a somber attitude," agreed Rabbi Menachem Weissmann, head of school at Providence Hebrew Day School. "It's hard to celebrate when other people are in distress."

But the message of Hanukkah may be more important now than ever, said Rabbi Menachem Mendel Laufer, of Chabad of College Hill, in Providence. "Hanukkah is about bringing light to darkness, and there seems to be a little more darkness in the Jewish community this year," he said. "It's not been an easy year for the Jewish community."

'If we can survive the story of Hanukkah, we can survive anything'

Rabbi Yossi Laufer, of Chabad of West Bay, agreed.

"The message of Hanukkah is light over darkness," he said. "We're living in dire times, and people out there are trying to perpetuate evil ideas."

But, he added, that echoes the Hanukkah story. "If we can survive the story of Hanukkah, we can survive anything."

Hanukkah commemorates the Jewish community in Jerusalem liberating the temple there after occupying Greeks had vandalized and defiled it. They found only enough oil to light the temple lamp for a single night, but that oil lasted eight nights, the length of the modern holiday.

Rabbi Yoshi Laufer said that he has been fascinated by people's reactions to the world situation this Hanukkah. He said he has heard of people who always displayed a menorah in their window who will refrain this year out of concern. At the same time, he has heard others who have never had a menorah who decided this is the year to display one.

Rabbi Mack has heard similar sentiments.

"There's a great deal of fear in the Jewish community," she said, adding, "In the face of antisemitism and hatred in the world, a good antidote seems to be live Jewishly."

And some who have decided to display a menorah for the first time told her: "If not now, when?"

Despite – or maybe because of – troubling times, some welcome Hanukkah

Several people who spoke to The Providence Journal this week said they are looking forward to the holiday.

"Every year we get out the menorah," said Paul Krosney, of Middletown. "I search around for candles."

"It'a a time to grow your connections, both with God and with family members," said Rachel Picraux, a seventh-grader at Providence Hebrew Day School "It's also a time to remember times when God saved us."

"I am Jewish, ethnically, and although I don't often celebrate the Jewish holidays, it still means a lot to me and particularly in these polarizing times, I do stand with the Jewish people," said Andrew Sokobin, of Warwick, who described Hanukkah as "a festival of light, joy, family."

"It's a time that we celebrate miracles that God has done for us," said Shoshana Raizel Yudkowsky, an eighth-grader at Providence Hebrew Day School.

"It means to me a nice time of year that reminds me of my childhood," said Paul Guyer, of Attleboro. He will make latkes with his grandfather's recipe, and share them at a gathering of a couple of dozen friends and family.

But, Guyer acknowledges, world events may make the holiday different this year.

How?

"I don't know the answer to that," he said. "I'll tell you in two weeks' time."

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Hanukkah in troubled times is still a celebration of light in RI