JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jewish community in Jacksonville celebrated the second night of Hanukkah on Friday despite antisemitic messages spray painted on signs during the first night of the eight-day holiday.
This comes as religious-based hate crimes are on the rise and law enforcement agencies are warning members of the Jewish community to be alert for possible threats.
One of the symbols of Hanukkah is a menorah. It symbolizes the eight nights of Hanukkah with the middle light being the one that lights all the other candles.
An initiative called Project Menorah is asking non-Jews to put menorahs in their windows so that Jewish people can feel safe to do so too. A rabbi I spoke with says seeing that initiative is humbling.
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Families in Jacksonville celebrated Hanukkah during their Friday night services at the Temple Jax. Maya Glasser, Senior Rabbi for the congregation, said this year the festival of lights feels more poignant than ever, with the Israel-Hamas war happening halfway across the world.
“The fact that we are still doing this, Jewish people have gone through persecution and discrimination for centuries. And the fact that we’ll be here this evening, you know, 200 of us lighting our candles, our kids will be here marking their learning that just feels even more important than it might in another year,” Glasser said.
On the first night of Hanukkah, anti-semitic messages were spray painted on several signs in Jacksonville.
Mayor Donna Deegan released a statement on the situation saying:
“I strongly condemn the antisemitic graffiti that defaced signs on the first night of Hanukkah. I also condemn all messages of hate that seek to divide and marginalize our people. Jacksonville’s greatest strength is that we are a beautiful mosaic of people from all walks of life. It’s why love, light, and unity must always be our path forward.”
Mariam Feist, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Northeast Florida, said she feels gratitude that Mayor Deegan made that statement.
“We have so many different religions and, and, and colors and, and just people and who we are. And that is the beauty of our city. And that’s what we should be focusing on and not giving the space and the energy to those that want to promote hate, but really lean in on those that want the city to be exactly as the mayor said, a place of welcoming a place of living freely, and really, where everyone rights can be respected and valued,” Feist said.
A grassroots movement called Project Menorah is encouraging non-Jews to put a menorah in their window to show solidarity with the Jewish community as incidents of anti-semitism increase. Rabbi Glasser said while showing that support is meaningful, there’s also power in building relationships with people.
“That combats fear. Because when we see symbols and hateful messages, they’re meant to divide us. And they’re meant to tear us apart from each other, and to fear the other. And so to me, the way to combat that is information, it’s just reaching out, it’s coming to a service of a different faith, both in support and just for your own knowledge and your own curiosity,” Glasser said.
Hanukkah celebrations will continue in Northeast Florida over the next week. The Jewish Community Alliance will have another public menorah lighting on Dec. 11.
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