Wish to celebrate Jewish holiday without fears

The nation and world are in the midst of an alarming stretch of open anti-Semitism, often expressed with shocking violence.

It is our custom to acknowledge significant Jewish holidays. Hanukkah is here, and that usually calls for an editorial written in a spirit of celebration. Unfortunately the times demand something a bit different.

The nation and world are in the midst of an alarming stretch of open anti-Semitism, often expressed with shocking violence.

In a little over a year we’ve seen deadly shootings at synagogues in Pittsburgh and Southern California and the recent attack on a kosher market in Jersey City, New Jersey, part of a shooting spree that left three civilians and one policeman dead.

Meanwhile there’s been a steady series of incidents involving crimes such as harassment and vandalism that don’t get the same amount of attention as shootings but greatly increase anxiety among Jewish communities.

The Anti-Defamation League recorded 1,879 antiSemitic incidents in the U.S. in 2018, the third-highest year on record.

The organization said there were 780 such cases during the first six months of this year.

The worst year for antiSemitic acts was 2017, with nearly 2000 cases of assaults, vandalism, bomb threats and other incidents, according to the ADL.

One might think that the New York metropolitan area, home to some 1.7 million Jews, would be seen as a safe harbor from anti-Semitism.

The Jersey City violence reminds us that is hardly the case.

And New York City police reported 163 anti-Semitic incidents in the five boroughs in the first nine months of the year.

That’s a 50 percent increase over the same period in 2018.

People whose clothing or personal appearance make them readily identifiable as Jews are particularly susceptible to harassment or worse.

Hanukkah has great relevance to these current troubles.

The eight-day celebration, which began Sunday night, tells the story of how Jews in biblical times fought back against their persecutors.

It celebrates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem by the Maccabees after a three-year rebellion resulted in their victory over the Syrians in 170 B.C.

Jews rebelled because they had been prohibited from practicing their religion and were being forced to worship Greek gods. The Syrians defiled the sacred Temple, calling for an altar to Zeus to be constructed there and for pigs to be slaughtered on the site in violation of Jewish law.

During Hanukkah, Jews express joy at their ancestors’ victory but understand that the conflict itself was the result of the kind of persecution the Jewish people have endured for thousands of years.

Recent events remind us that though Jews have become accustomed to acceptance in America, vigilance on the part of Jews and their friends in the larger community is essential if we are to keep things that way. That means engaging in acts of friendship and refusing to tolerate hateful acts or commentary on the part of others.

We are fortunate that interfaith relations are strong in our communities. Jews here are involved in activities with people of other religions and practice their faith openly. That’s an important part of Hanukkah.

Part of the holiday’s tradition calls on Jews to place menorahs in their windows so the lights may be seen by passers-by. It’s an expression of pride in one’s faith and defiance against bigots. It also symbolizes the desire to bring light into a world all too often afflicted by darkness

Many Jewish communities take the tradition a step further by holding menorah lightings in popular public places. These events attract the attention of the public, adding to the holiday festivities.

They reinforce the idea that American Jews will not give in to fear or let recent events interfere with a time of celebration.

May people of all faiths unite behind the idea that we should all be free to pray in peace.

And may the Hanukkah candles help to bring lasting light and enlightenment to the world.