Just doesn’t feel right celebrating Hanukkah this year.

[Anonymous]

Omg Hanukkah is a small holiday.

OP is a troll trying to spew between Israel and Hamas.

Hamas started this Israel will finish it and Hanukkah has nothing to do with this

Because this year in the US you can celebrate next year nope say goodbye to all things Jewish given Chabad and Lubbers are so stupid to stand with the Nazi loving republicans the Us will not be safe for Jews.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like this post was written by someone who is not Jewish the same way conservative trolls will try to post things from the perspective of "a lifelong liberal who is now disillusioned".

Judaism is not Israel. I'm ashamed of Israel's war crimes the same way I am ashamed of the US war crimes following 9-11. That doesn't mean I don't still believe in democracy.

I'm the pp from previous page that said I was struggling with the war crimes. I feel the same way about 9/11. If 9/11 was actually 6/11, would you still feel so jolly about celebrating 7/4 so soon after? IMO no, it would certainly dampen the mood. I get that 7/4 isnt religious, but the "feeling" is missing, related directly to crimes being committed by what I'm supposed to celebrate.

Wow, I missed the part where on Hanukkah we’re supposed to celebrate the state of Israel. Here I thought it was a Jewish holiday celebrating the history of the Jewish people.

Maybe brush up on your history and you’ll feel a bit better. Or are you either implying or outright saying that the Jewish people as a whole must answer for the particular acts of the government of Israel?

When non-Jewish people insist on making non-Israeli Jews answer for Israeli policies, I call them antisemites. When Jewish people fall into the same trap, I think they’ve been listening to too many antisemites.

[Anonymous]

OP, this is how I understand your post, but please correct me if I'm wrong: I don't feel right celebrating Hanukkah this year while there is so much suffering in Israel. It feels like the Jewish community is in a period of mourning and I don't know how to be joyful in such somber times. I might also feel targeted and unsafe given rising antisemitism.

To which I would respond: Hanukkah is about finding light and hope in the darkness. It's about shining brightly for all to see. It's about Jewish pride. My family will celebrate as usual at home, at our synagogue, with friends, and in public.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like this post was written by someone who is not Jewish the same way conservative trolls will try to post things from the perspective of "a lifelong liberal who is now disillusioned".

Judaism is not Israel. I'm ashamed of Israel's war crimes the same way I am ashamed of the US war crimes following 9-11. That doesn't mean I don't still believe in democracy.

I'm the pp from previous page that said I was struggling with the war crimes. I feel the same way about 9/11. If 9/11 was actually 6/11, would you still feel so jolly about celebrating 7/4 so soon after? IMO no, it would certainly dampen the mood. I get that 7/4 isnt religious, but the "feeling" is missing, related directly to crimes being committed by what I'm supposed to celebrate.

Wow, I missed the part where on Hanukkah we’re supposed to celebrate the state of Israel. Here I thought it was a Jewish holiday celebrating the history of the Jewish people.

Maybe brush up on your history and you’ll feel a bit better. Or are you either implying or outright saying that the Jewish people as a whole must answer for the particular acts of the government of Israel?

When non-Jewish people insist on making non-Israeli Jews answer for Israeli policies, I call them antisemites. When Jewish people fall into the same trap, I think they’ve been listening to too many antisemites.

Please don't put words into my mouth (or post). I grew up celebrating Hanukkah as a time to celebrate being Jewish and celebrate miracles. I grew up celebrating strength and perseverance. I dont find it easy to celebrate these things during a war on jews and subsequent retaliation causing the loss of 15,000+ people. I'm not sure why this is fodder for your internet crusades. Apparently I'm not allowed to be disgusted by the US or Israel committing war crimes? I'm not going to respond further, as it's clear DCUM is not a soft, welcoming place to discuss struggles. I should have known, but thought others might be able to relate. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hanukkah is observed, not celebrated. And the reason for observing it is the same today as it has been.

What a bizarre semantic argument to try to make. Yom Kippur is "observed." Tisha B'Av is "observed." Hanukkah is definitely "celebrated" though. It is a joyous holiday, not a commemoration of a tragedy or day of solemn reflection.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

“Zamietchkowski, you are a hundred percent right,” answered the Rabbi. “When I reached the third blessing, I also hesitated and asked myself, what should I do with this blessing? I turned my head in order to ask the Rabbi of Zaner and other distinguished Rabbis who were standing near me if indeed I might recite the blessing. But just as I was turning my head, I noticed that behind me a throng was standing, a large crowd of living Jews, their faces expressing faith, devotion, and deliberation as they were listening to the rite of the kindling of the Chanuka lights. I said to myself, if G-d has such a nation that at times like these, when during the lighting of the Chanuka lights they see in front of them the heaps of bodies of their beloved fathers, brothers, and sons, and death is looking from every corner, if despite all that, they stand in throngs and with devotion listening to the Chanuka blessing “Who performed miracles for our Fathers in days of old, at this season”; indeed I was blessed to see such a people with so much faith and fervor, then I am under a special obligation to recite the third blessing.”

https://ohr.edu/holidays/chanukah/miracles/2835

Thank you for posting this. I’ve read it before, but needed to read it again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like this post was written by someone who is not Jewish the same way conservative trolls will try to post things from the perspective of "a lifelong liberal who is now disillusioned".

Judaism is not Israel. I'm ashamed of Israel's war crimes the same way I am ashamed of the US war crimes following 9-11. That doesn't mean I don't still believe in democracy.

I'm the pp from previous page that said I was struggling with the war crimes. I feel the same way about 9/11. If 9/11 was actually 6/11, would you still feel so jolly about celebrating 7/4 so soon after? IMO no, it would certainly dampen the mood. I get that 7/4 isnt religious, but the "feeling" is missing, related directly to crimes being committed by what I'm supposed to celebrate.

What court has found Israel guilty of war crimes?

Well thats not what this thread is about, buuuuut since you asked:
We will soon find out, apparently yesterday Erdogan called for Bibi to be tried. "The butcher of gaza" has quite the ring to it. We will see what happens, but it's clear that many things happening are war crimes -
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/turkeys-erdogan-says-israels-netanyahu-will-be-tried-war-criminal-2023-12-04/

Feel free to check the sources at the bottom https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_crimes_in_the_2023_Israel%E2%80%93Hamas_war

I'm appalled by Israel's government and Netanyahu, but pardon me if I don't consider Erdogan to be an entirely good-faith judge of what's going on. (For one, he previously said Israelis are "only satisfied by sucking [Palestinian children's] blood" and that behind all opposition to Turkey's government lies "this mastermind," before his political allies produced a video titled "The Mastermind" that opened with a Star of David.)

I wouldn't expect to see Netanyahu on trial for war crimes unless the opposition takes power and decides to throw him overboard, and even then, he'd probably flee to somewhere where he couldn't be made to stand trial.

I agree with you on Erdogan, but there is other unrest simmering, this was just a very public and recent call for action. The Netherlands has been accused of "war crime complicity", and I feel like the longer this war goes on (aka the more people are killed) the more sh*t is going to hit the fan for Bibi and countries supporting israel.

Anyways, just saying that there are lots of israelis and jews that dont support the measures being taken and are finding this season difficult.

So, no war crimes. Take your hyperbole somewhere else, like the Politics section.

[Anonymous]

I am so confused at how everyone in this thread assumed that OP’s post was about Israeli misconduct and not about Israeli suffering.

[Anonymous]

Hanukkah is about staying Jewish under almost unbearable pressure to assimilate. It feels incredibly timely for me this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am so confused at how everyone in this thread assumed that OP’s post was about Israeli misconduct and not about Israeli suffering.

Completely agree!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am so confused at how everyone in this thread assumed that OP’s post was about Israeli misconduct and not about Israeli suffering.

1. Religious observance is often a comfort in times of suffering. Hanukkah observance is low key and inspiring. Observing Hanukkah is more like going to a church service than a drunken Christmas party. It's not incompatible with Israeli suffering.

2. Lived experience. I'm in a Facebook group where another (nonJewish) mom announced that menorahs were now "contentious symbols" and Jews should not be "putting them in windows" this year. Her post got dozens of likes from other non Jews, many of whom, I'm sure, would have been wholly offended at the suggestion that Muslim women stop wearing hijab after 9-11.

[Anonymous]

No. I think that you have to live life to the best of your abilities and celebrate joyful and good things in life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am so confused at how everyone in this thread assumed that OP’s post was about Israeli misconduct and not about Israeli suffering.

1. Religious observance is often a comfort in times of suffering. Hanukkah observance is low key and inspiring. Observing Hanukkah is more like going to a church service than a drunken Christmas party. It's not incompatible with Israeli suffering.

2. Lived experience. I'm in a Facebook group where another (nonJewish) mom announced that menorahs were now "contentious symbols" and Jews should not be "putting them in windows" this year. Her post got dozens of likes from other non Jews, many of whom, I'm sure, would have been wholly offended at the suggestion that Muslim women stop wearing hijab after 9-11.

Multiple people have called it a joyful holiday so it’s conceivable to me that OP has a different view than your 1st point. And the 2nd point might not be OP’s “lived experience.” All I’ve seen on Facebook is people saying everyone SHOULD celebrate the Jewish holidays because otherwise the terrorists win.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am so confused at how everyone in this thread assumed that OP’s post was about Israeli misconduct and not about Israeli suffering.

1. Religious observance is often a comfort in times of suffering. Hanukkah observance is low key and inspiring. Observing Hanukkah is more like going to a church service than a drunken Christmas party. It's not incompatible with Israeli suffering.

2. Lived experience. I'm in a Facebook group where another (nonJewish) mom announced that menorahs were now "contentious symbols" and Jews should not be "putting them in windows" this year. Her post got dozens of likes from other non Jews, many of whom, I'm sure, would have been wholly offended at the suggestion that Muslim women stop wearing hijab after 9-11.

Sorry you’re not getting invited to the good Hanukkah parties

[Anonymous]

I'm Jewish, not a Zionist, I don't like what Israel and Hamas are doing, and I'm not celebrating Hannakah this year.
If you don't like that I don't care. I'm an independent thinker and have always been different.
I'm not festive this year and I'm not celebrating. You can do whatever you want to do. Your opinion of me doesn't matter to me. I've always lived outside the box.