Just doesn’t feel right celebrating Hanukkah this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone else feeling the same way?

Hanukkah?

The one I'm struggling with is with Passover. That genocide of Egyptians, especially their first born, is not let's say pretty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone else feeling the same way?

Who can ignore ongoing human casualties when celebrating anything this year? No matter which religion one follows or what holiday they celebrate. Make it about peace so no other holiday season is ever tainted this way.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_2023_Israel–Hamas_war#:~:text=As%20of%2020%20December%2C%20over,over%20135%20UNRWA%20aid%20workers.

Assuming you didn’t celebrate Christmas, then.

There are many ways to honor holy days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone else feeling the same way?

Hanukkah?

The one I'm struggling with is with Passover. That genocide of Egyptians, especially their first born, is not let's say pretty.

The sadness and difficulty of the final plague (and really all of the plagues) is at least already acknowledged in the symbolic spilling of wine during the seder, though I imagine when Passover rolls around, someone will create another thread to discuss how we are handling/incorporating our feelings about the war into our seders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone else feeling the same way?

Hanukkah?

The one I'm struggling with is with Passover. That genocide of Egyptians, especially their first born, is not let's say pretty.

The sadness and difficulty of the final plague (and really all of the plagues) is at least already acknowledged in the symbolic spilling of wine during the seder, though I imagine when Passover rolls around, someone will create another thread to discuss how we are handling/incorporating our feelings about the war into our seders.

Passover is far less militaristic than Chanukah is, though -- yes, the Egyptians suffered through the plagues, but primarily it's about the redemption of the Israelites from captivity. Which obviously lends itself to its own modern interpretation. (If there are still hostages held in Gaza then, I will personally be wishing for a variety of plagues on Netanyahu's head.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone else feeling the same way?

Hanukkah?

The one I'm struggling with is with Passover. That genocide of Egyptians, especially their first born, is not let's say pretty.

The sadness and difficulty of the final plague (and really all of the plagues) is at least already acknowledged in the symbolic spilling of wine during the seder, though I imagine when Passover rolls around, someone will create another thread to discuss how we are handling/incorporating our feelings about the war into our seders.

The simile is much more vivid for me. Mass killing of innocents, following an unfair structural problem, leads to salvation and freedom.