Chabad of Spokane hosting Hanukkah celebration Sunday night
SPOKANE, Wash. — The Chabad of Spokane County is holding a Hanukkah celebration Sunday night.
The event starts at 6 p.m. and promises to be a fun time – with donuts, latkes and Hanukkah candy crafting, as well as a video presentation, live music, candlemaking and gifts for the kids. For more information, including an RSVP, visit the Chabad of Spokane County website here.
Despite these festivities, this event comes at a solemn time for the Jewish community, following several anti-Semitic attacks across the country.
“There were horrific attacks… we’re talking about tons of attacks in the past two weeks alone,” Rabbi Yisroel Hahn explained, “the crescendo was [the] Jersey City shooting attack, and this violent attack last night in a Rabbi’s home, which almost killed five people.”
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Hahn says that the attacks are not merely crimes against Jewish people, but against the very ideals of the United States.
“America was founded on values of tolerance… we celebrate Hanukkah – Hanukkah is part of that celebration, it’s that expression of freedom and religion,” said Hahn, “Goodness and kindness will and shall prevail, and that is done through us, we have that ability to do that.”
Hahn says that the response his community must have is to strengthen the connection to people’s Jewish identity and values.
“Tonight is the last day of Hanukkah,” said Hahn, on the celebratory event, “Light the menorah with us, have some latkes, have some donuts – if you can’t make it, light [your menorah] at home. Reconnect, and show the world that our response will be strengthened and we become stronger.”
As awful as the attacks have been, Hahn believes there is no better time for the Jewish community to celebrate their ancestry. “Because of these horrific events, there’s no greater message than the message of Hanukkah, there’s no greater message between evil, darkness, light and goodness…” said Hahn.
“… A little bit of light dispels a lot of darkness; that message is more prevalent today.”
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