The Jewish communities in Ukraine are preparing for the brightest holiday of the year: The dilemma of the heads of the Jewish communities – how do you celebrate when in the background the war is still going on non-stop, when the majority of the country’s citizens are in absolute chaos most hours of the day, and many of them are under curfew?
In short: how can you celebrate Hanukkah and maintain good relations with your neighbors who do not go out for celebrations during wartime and have almost no light during the day?
In recent weeks, the rabbis of the communities and Chabad representatives began to prepare for the distribution of thousands of Hanukkah kits to the Jews of the communities, in every corner of Ukraine. In the special kits: a Hanukkah book for children, Hanukkah fees, informational brochures for adults, a Chanukah and candles, spinning wheels, a packaged doughnut, chocolate coins, and sweet snacks.
The Hanukkah kits are currently being sent to the Jewish communities by JRNU – Chabad’s rescue center in Ukraine, and will be packed in every Jewish community by local volunteers.
In addition, the Jews of the communities will also receive special food packages that will brighten their Hanukkah days.
Exceptional permits from the municipalities
The great dilemma of the Jews of the communities, should we celebrate Hanukkah as an annual event, also by placing the large Hanukkah in public places? In the past decades, the menorahs of Chabad emissaries have been lighting up the public spaces in Ukraine, as well as in the whole world. However, in the shadow of the difficult war, the dilemma is increasing: on the one hand, the desire to celebrate the ancient Jewish holiday and make the Jews of the community happy. On the other hand, during a war, placing a menorah could be perceived as a lack of consideration for all the citizens who are under the terror of war.
Currently, there are municipalities that have given their consent to the Chabad emissaries and community rabbis to place the menorahs, and this is to convey a kind of ‘business as usual’ and not let the difficult situation cloud the mood of the citizens.
However, there are municipalities that completely prohibit the placing of any sign of joy and celebration on the streets of the cities, for all citizens.
“This morning we received permission from the municipality and we will place the menorah like every year in the center of the city,” said one of the city’s rabbis and a Chabad emissary. “This time, unlike all the years, we are lighting the menorah using a small gas balloon that will last for two or three hours.”
Rabbi Levi Stambler, Rabbi of Kaminskyi and Chabad emissary received permission from the municipality to place menorahs in the city. “We received special permission from the municipality and the regional military defense to also place billboards to publicize the Jewish miracle,” said Rabbi Stambler, “with the billboards we publish the Rabbi’s message: A little light overcomes great darkness.”
In one of the cities that is under continuous fighting, and during most hours of the day there is complete darkness, the military governor decided to grant permission to the rabbi of the community to place the menorah. “I will personally come to see the lighting,” the governor told the rabbi, “it is of the utmost importance for us to do everything and preserve the routine, the tradition and the joy of our citizens.”
However, despite the exceptional approvals given in some places to place Hanukkah, public Hanukkah parties will not take place, due to the situation.
The message: “Light repels darkness”
Some of the Chabad deliveries found an interim solution, to place the menorah in the courtyard of the synagogue only and not in the streets of the cities as was the case until this year. “We explained to the representatives of the government, as well as to all citizens, that the Rebbe taught us that light repels darkness,” says Rabbi Avraham Wolff, Rabbi of the city of Odessa and a Chabad emissary, “and therefore placing a menorah, right now, expresses a message of light and hope.”
Rabbi Wolf added: “We launched an awareness campaign that the message of the menorah, and this year even more so, is that everyone can illuminate the world by adding light, each in his own place, and this is the best way to overcome difficulties. If a person helps his neighbor heat the water, or helps bring water to a neighbor who doesn’t have one, or provides hot equipment to someone in need, etc. – he spreads light and makes the world a better place.
“In the meantime, let’s all pray that by Hanukkah the war will end and the challenging dilemma will be spared from us.”