In the wake of global conflicts and a tragic Hanukkah celebration shooting in Australia, the Jewish Discovery Center in Waverly emphasizes hope and resilience.
WAVERLY, Pa. — Hanukkah, the eight holiest days in Judaism, eight days centered on hope and light, centered on community during hard times.
Rabbi Benny Rapoport, Jewish Discovery Center co-director, says, “There’s a powerful message here, especially in a time when there’s so much hate, so much violence. The message is, the way we combat evil is by lighting a candle, and that means doing good, adding in light, adding in goodness.”
A powerful message is needed for some at the Jewish Discovery Center in Waverly. Just days ago, a Hanukkah celebration in Australia was the target of a mass shooting that left 15 people dead and dozens more injured.
Susan Levin of South Abington Township says, “There’s shifts globally, there’s so much division, but that is a devastation, a tragedy of loss of human beings during a time of celebration.”
Bruce Gevanthor of Scranton says, “Brings you to tears, absolute tears that people would be out celebrating such a happy event, and people had planned very well and strategically how to go and just start shooting them.”
With the mass shooting in Australia and the conflict between Israel and Hamas, folks invited a former Israeli hostage to speak about her experiences in captivity.
Rabbi Benny Rapoport, Jewish Discovery Center co-director says, “The blessings of the menorah are all about the miracles in those days this time of year, to have somebody who is a walking miracle, who literally went and was taken hostage and was released miraculously with her daughter just a few weeks later is a miracle we can look at and we can think about and it can help us think what our lives are like.”