The parking lot outside of the Viking Building in St. John’s was full for a chilly Sunday evening, but vehicles filed in for a menorah lighting ceremony to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah.
Hanukkah is known as the Jewish festival of light. It’s the “triumph of light over the darkness,” said Rabbi Chanan Chernitsky of the Chabad of Newfoundland.
Jewish people around the world celebrate for eight days, give gifts, and eat oil-fried latkes and sufganiyot — or hashbrowns and jelly-filled donuts. A menorah is typically placed by a window with candles representing each day of the holiday.
“The weather is almost irrelevant as everybody’s protected by their cars,” Chernitsky said, bundled up against the cold.
The event in St. John’s has been done in a drive-thru style since 2020. In the comfort of heated vehicles, attendees tune in through their car radio to listen to speeches from the rabbi, local politicians and invited guests. What started as a way to maintain social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic has stuck ever since.
But hanging in the air on Sunday was the tragic news from across the ocean. Two gunmen opened fire at a Hanukkah event at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. At least 15 people were killed and 38 are in hospital in what Australia’s prime minister said was an act of antisemitic terrorism.
Rabbi Eli Schlanger, assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi, was identified as one of the victims.
“It always hits you harder when it’s family like that,” Rabbi Chernitsky said of his colleague.
PC cabinet Minister Lin Paddock attended the St. John’s event Sunday. He offered words of solidarity.
“On behalf of Premier Wakeham, I want you to know that Newfoundland and Labrador stands with the entire Jewish community as we collectively focus on creating light during this period of darkness,” he said.
Steven Glassman and his son got out of their car to stretch their legs.
“My son, who’s half Jewish himself, he doesn’t get to experience, especially in Newfoundland, much things like this,” he said. “So it was nice to do a Hanukkah thing in addition to all the Christmas stuff he gets to experience.”
Rabbi Chernitsky said the event welcomes all members of the public and that he loves to see community support.
Bradley Amir moved to St. John’s from Montreal only weeks ago. He said he heard the Jewish community in St. John’s is small but mighty.
“I get to show my new Newfoundland family here how to do Hanukkah,” he said.
Tree Walsh, who isn’t Jewish, said she comes to the menorah lighting ceremony each year alongside her Jewish wife.
“It’s just very joyful,” Walsh said.
Richard and Debbie Fahey say they found the event on Facebook and came to learn more about the holiday and the Jewish faith.
“After getting that terrible news from Australia, we thought it was especially important to come in support.,” said Debbie Fahey.
Under the menorah’s glow, the evening ended with a game of bingo, attendees honking their horns when they won.
“The way to fight darkness is not with sticks, it’s not with violence, but with light,” Rabbi Chernitsky said.
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