‘Brighten the darkness’
First night of Hanukkah celebrated with Tree of Life victims in mind
Hundreds gathered outside Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill on Sunday to mark the first night of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah and, in the words of one rabbi, “brighten the darkness.”
Darkness came Oct. 27 when a rampaging gunman killed 11 Sabbath worshippers in that building.
Brightness came in the form of an electric menorah, lit by a combination of police officers, paramedics, the head of the local FBI office and survivors of the massacre.
Leaders of three congregations — Tree of Life/Or L’Simcha, New Light and Dor Hadash — said they hoped the ritual would help the community heal and overcome hatred.
After the menorah was lit, the rabbis led the crowd in traditional songs. The most poignant was the Hebrew children’s song “Banu Choshech Legaresh,” or “We’ve Come to Drive Away Darkness”:
“Though the night is cold and dark, in our soul there lies a spark, each of us is one small light, all together we shine bright.”
Rabbi Jonathan Perlman of New Light, who joined with Rabbi Jeffrey Myers of Tree of Life/Or L’Simcha in leading the crowd through the songs, said Sunday’s ceremony blended that message with that of Hanukkah,
which he said celebrates victory over tyranny. He referred to the Jewish uprising against religious oppression by the ruling Syrian Greek empire in ancient Israel in the second century before the common era.
“As in ancient times, [when] Jewish people strove for independence, strove for religious freedom, so, too, today we strive to be able to freely worship in our sacred places,” he said.
The three congregations had held other ceremonies in the past week to pay tribute to the victims, sing, pray and “lift up hope,” said Rabbi Perlman.
Now the first night of the eight-day festival of Hanukkah would continue that healing.
“I feel very strongly that Hanukkah for me will never be the same,” the rabbi said. “I never made the connection before between hope and Hanukkah. But from now on, I will always celebrate this holiday with the idea that hope is always a possibility. There is never a time without hope.”
“I feel very strongly that Hanukkah for me will never be the same.” — Rabbi Jonathan Perlman of New Light