Jewish community reflecting on the first night of Hanukkah

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The first night of Hanukkah is officially underway.

The festival of lights tells a story of perseverance and community, two things the Jewish community said matter more than ever.

“We try to remember, in our tradition, it’s always important to sort of find the light,” Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island President and CEO Adam Greenman said. “Hanukkah gives us that reminder, and so the events that are happening around our state over the next eight days really give us that opportunity to come together to celebrate joy. Even in hard times it’s part of the Jewish tradition to make sure we celebrate joy. Even in our toughest times, so that’s what we’re doing.”

But just two months after the initial attacks in Israel, members of the Jewish community may be apprehensive to celebrate outwardly.

“The rise in antisemitism is astronomical,” Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center Executive Director Wendy Joering. “I believe one of the most recent surveys is a 700-900% increase in antisemitism on college campuses. I know that kids are scared, even in high school, kids are being bullied in middle school, elementary school, we’ve gotten calls about it.”

The Anti-Defamation League reported a 36% increase in antisemitic incidents in 2022, and preliminary numbers showed a 366% increase in incidents since October of 2022.

Even with that, the Jewish community in Providence plans on celebrating the festival of lights, with a “Hanukkah Spectaculah” scheduled for this Sunday.

“I think everyone should be proud of their Judaism, and their heritage, and where they’re from, and hopefully we won’t have to worry about that one day, and I will be out of a job!” Joering said.

Hanukkah will continue through December 14th, and Greenman says he’s hoping everyone can share the light during the festival of lights.

“We will have our menorah in our window tonight in my house after we light the candles,” he said. “I look forward to seeing menorahs throughout the state. You know, I’m really proud that we live in a state that’s founded on religious freedom, founded on religious tolerance. I would encourage everybody who has a menorah to light it and put it in the window. The whole point of the holiday is to share the light and so we hope everyone will do that.”