In celebration of events that happened more than 2,100 years ago, families, friends and local dignitaries gathered for the second annual Hanukkah celebration at the Innisfil Town Hall earlier this week.
Innisfil Mayor Lynn Dollin was honoured to light the menorah as she did last year.
“It was a historic event for Innisfil and a lovely evening of celebration,” she recalled. “Council has committed to having an annual menorah lighting at our town hall to celebrate Hanukkah and to symbolize our commitment to promoting inclusion and belonging.
“I’ve never, ever been to an event where people have been so grateful for us putting on an event,” Dollin said of last year’s inaugural celebration.
Rabbi Zevi Kaplan was instrumental in the town's commencement of this tradition, and he explained the importance of a public celebration as religious custom and tradition live on.
“In 1973, the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, introduced the Hanukkah awareness campaign, urging increased private observance and public displays of the eight-day holiday," Kaplan said.
"He explained that Jews had once kindled their menorahs outside their homes, but centuries of persecution had driven them indoors. The Rebbe asserted that the time had come to once again bring the light of the menorah out onto the streets — not only restoring the tradition as a reminder that the Jewish people are free of persecution and can enjoy their rights as a minority, but as a universal message of freedom and liberty for all,” Kaplan added.
“This year’s menorah-lighting is especially significant as it comes during the Year of Hakhel — or 'Gathering' — which is a once-in-seven-years Jewish tradition focused on unity and Torah study and observance,” Kaplan explained.
Kaplan started the ceremony with these inspiring words: “Freedom is the power of good over evil, light over darkness. What differentiates light from darkness is that you can never hold on to darkness, keep darkness in a box whereas light — the forces of light — you can always light a candle and you have a source of light wherever you’re trying to illuminate," he explained.
"Obviously, darkness is not fought with sticks — darkness is not fought directly. Rather, it’s by shining a light — a candle of hope, of peace, a candle of truth — and the darkness disappears on its own," he said.
Barrie-Innisfil MP John Brassard was on hand for Monday's ceremony.
“We’re able to celebrate our religious freedoms no matter what faith we are. I am so thankful and grateful for that," said Brassard. "And I just want to wish everyone that’s here a very happy Hannukah. May you find time to celebrate with family and friends throughout this holiday."
Dollin and Kaplan lit the menorah before the children who form the Chabad Innisfil Hebrew School choir sang Oh Hannukah and Dreidel Dreidel. Phones in hand, proud parents and family members took photos and videos of the children as they sang.
Marvin Geist read “the obligation to illuminate the world,” which is a letter written in 1980 by the modern-day leader of world Jewry, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson.
“Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, recalls the victory — more than 2,100 years ago — of a militarily weak but spiritually strong Jewish people over the mighty forces of a ruthless enemy that had overrun the Holy Land and threatened to engulf the land and its people in darkness," Geist read. "The miraculous victory—culminating with the re-dedication of the Sanctuary in Jerusalem and the rekindling of the Menorah which had been desecrated and extinguished by the enemy — has been celebrated annually ever since.”
With that, the ceremony concluded, but the celebration was just beginning. Jewish music played, latkes and donuts were enjoyed, and children created arts and crafts as they laughed and joked with one another.
Rachel Grinman expressed her gratitude to the town on behalf of the Jewish community and her family.
“We appreciate (this event). In a time when antisemitism is rising, to make a place for my children to be able to practise their beliefs and to feel free and inclusive like everyone else, I’m very grateful for that," Grinman said.
This year, Hanukkah started at nightfall on Dec. 18, 2022, and will conclude on the evening of Dec. 26, so the celebration continues.
Two events will take place at Chabad Innisfil (A Ladies' Hanukkah Workshop is on Dec. 21 and a Teens' Hanukkah Masterchef event will take place on Thursday), as well as a Menorah Lighting at Friday Harbour on Dec. 22 at 8 p.m. To learn more, visit jewishinnisfil.com.
