Chanukah 2024/5785 Members
Chanukah is for everyone—and this year, it feels especially resonant.
As we reflect on a year filled with liberation struggles, spiritual seeking, and challenges to justice and peace, Chanukah offers a unique opportunity for connection and reflection. This holiday, rooted in the story of a Jewish national liberation struggle, carries lessons that speak powerfully to our times.
While the Maccabean revolt is remembered for its fight against oppression, it also reminds us of the dangers of violence and chauvinist nationalism. The rabbinic tradition reframed Chanukah as a holiday of spiritual renewal, concerned about the dangers of revolutionary challenges to the oppression of empires. As we celebrate, we aim to uplift the spirit of liberation while exploring nonviolent paths to freedom.
How can we hold the complexities of this holiday and learn from its history today? We’ll explore this question together, as well as dance and sing, and light the Chanukah candles at our Hybrid Chanukah Celebration, happening both in person and on Zoom:
Date: Saturday, December 28th
Time: 6:00–9:00 PM PT | 9:00 PM–12:00 AM ET
Location: In-person in Berkeley, CA, or online via Zoom
Volunteers Needed: If you can volunteer (for set-up and/or clean-up), please email Austin at austin@beyttikkun.wpenginepowered.com.
Details:
- Registration is free for members. For others, we kindly request a $10 donation to help cover costs. (If you want to invite non-members, please send them this link.)
- Questions? Please contact Austin at austin@beyttikkun.wpenginepowered.com.
What to Expect:
- Reflections on the Chanukah story, Torah, and Haftorah.
- Small group discussions on the holiday’s meaning for our lives today.
- Candle lighting for the 4th night, followed by singing and dancing to old and new Chanukah songs led by Ami Goodman. (Feel free to bring your own menorah; we will have some as well.)
- Delicious latkes provided by us! Please bring a vegetarian dish to share if joining in person.
We hope you’ll join us for this evening of reflection, joy, and community. Don’t miss this chance to connect with the deeper meanings of Chanukah while celebrating together.