Lighting the Menorah and Jewish Spirit Across Europe

As the Jewish communities of Europe continue to evolve, so, too, does the sophistication and reach of their holiday activities. Hanukkah 2006 has been no exception, with innovative programs illuminating the continent.

For the first time in the Jewish community in the Baltic States, a JDC-supported Hanukkah "caravan" is reaching seven Latvian communities including Riga and Liepaja. "Besides lighting the candles we are looking to light the souls of the people," reflected Moni, JDC Country Manager for Latvia. The caravan features a group of local artists — a singer, a young klezmer group, an Israeli dance teacher — who are performing in a new location each day, as well as a rabbi to lecture on the meaning of the holiday and madrichim (youth counselors) who are leading programs for children.

"Many people still don't connect to Judaism on a 'religious level,'" explained Moni, "but the cultural part of it — the miracle — is what we want to bring to them."

In neighboring Lithuania, where outreach efforts are already proving fruitful in the country's Jewish renaissance, Hanukkah activities are reaching all age groups and geographic locales. With JDC support, youth leaders held a Hanukkah program at the Jewish kindergarten, educating the children about the holiday and distributing dreidels, Hanukkah gelt and other festive gifts. The Dubi ("small bear") club, where children ages 3-6 gather four times a week to participate in educational activities with the Jewish community, is hosting more than 100 youngsters and their families for a celebration. At the same time, teenagers of the Knafaim (wings) program in Vilnius showcased their talents at a café, and the community of Klaiveda hosted its first-ever game night for Gesher club participants, ages 30-55, on Saturday evening, December 16th, beginning with a Havdalah ceremony.

"For some, this was their first Jewish ceremony," observed Simonchik, JDC Country Manager for Lithuania. "This and the Hanukkah game will be a special way for people to learn more about the history of the holiday and experience a spark of Jewish life," he said.

Festivities will culminate with a mass event at the synagogue in Vilnius, which will include the community at large and ambassadors from various countries.

Yet while an emphasis is still being placed on "public," communitywide events, an increase in the number of families celebrating the holidays at home is, in fact, the truest indicator of the community's development. "A group of trained youth counselors are visiting the homes of elderly, bringing a bottle of kosher wine and a Hanukkiah," explained Simonchik. The idea of inviting some families to the homes of others to learn about the holiday is also being piloted for Pesach. "We want to give everyone the knowledge and teach them the traditions so that they can generate them in their homes" — a pillar of building Jewish life which was nearly eradicated by decades of Nazism and Communism. "This is really a sign of how far we have come."

This year's Hanukkah events in Hungary followed a similar trend, moving from mass, centrally located activities to more personalized, customized experiences. Further, for the numerous yet largely unaffiliated Jewish community of Hungary, this is the first year where all of the "specialized" groups made a united effort to outreach to as many Jews as possible, without feeling as though they were competing for participants.

Zsuzsa, Director of the Balint JCC in Budapest, explained that since the 1980s, Hanukkah and Purim have been the most important events that have brought Jews together in Hungary. Yet over the past few years, it has become increasingly difficult to cater to people's different interests in one setting. "The fact that all of the groups are coming together this year to publicize the various individual events — different things for children, for teens, for the middle generation and for the elderly, for example — sends the message that 'I value the other groups, whatever their philosophy is,'" explained Zsuzsa. "This is like the Talmud, because all of the different opinions are valued."

This powerful outreach effort has been backed up with fun-filled and original programming, including different events for each day and candle lighting each evening. An Israeli dance marathon, a "film day" that brings together the community's three film clubs — for youth, adults, and Jewish interest — and a "Generations" Hanukkah for all seniors, featuring a music concert, are among the highlights on this year's agenda.

"This change marks an important evolution of the community because now it's not about getting one large group of people to an event," said Zsuzsa, adding that this progress could not have happened without JDC support. In Hungary — and through the JCC in particular — JDC is playing the role of facilitator, bringing groups together and fostering cooperation and self-development. "Individuals and families and different interest groups are taking control and feeling empowered to do things on their own. This is more sustainable, which is the whole objective."

In Slovakia, children and youth performed in a talent show that gathered hundreds of Jews from the community while seniors convened for lunch and a klezmer concert, and a festive dinner with candle lighting attracted scores from the middle generation. Notably, a public candle lighting took place in the city square of Bratislava. "This is something that once would have been thought impossible," remarked a local community leader.

Manlio, JDC Country Director for Albania, observed that Hanukkah "miracles" are happening around the JDC world, including in the remotest and smallest Jewish communities. "Several years ago it seemed impossible, but in the more recent past and still today in Jewish homes throughout Albania, Hanukkah candles are lit, thanks to JDC," he said. Following a JDC initiative which sent a Jewish leader to Albania to run a Hanukkah program and introduce the traditions, the community now maintains them itself, while JDC continues to send candles to spark their efforts.

"With the cold of the temperatures in this season, the warmth of the light will be uniting the communities with the spirit of Hanukkah," observed Moni. "This is a wonderful contrast."

December 2006