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We heard about Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights, but it is not really in the Jewish Torah. So, what is Hanukkah and where does it come from?
UNITED STATES OF TODAY '
Rabbi Jeffrey Myers conducts a Chanukah Song Rally after lighting a menorah at the same time. Tree of Life synagogue exterior during the first night of Hanukkah Sunday in Pittsburgh District Squirrel Hill. (Photo: Gene J. Puskar, AP)
PITTSBURGH – The public lighting of a menorah Sunday in a Pittsburgh synagogue claimed the lives of 11 people killed in a shooting at the mass; dead, mark the theme of survival of Hanukkah and allow the community to strengthen its solidarity.
"For me, it's a simple message: light is the message," said Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, pointing to the Menorah standing around the corner. A makeshift memorial for the 11 victims stood up and was visited by thousands of respectful people.
Five weeks after the massacre – considered the deadliest attack on Jews in the United States – about 500 people gathered from Tree of Life to pray, sing songs and witness the lighting of the Menorah .
"We practice our Jewish religion publicly and proudly," said Stephen Cohen, co-chair of New Light, whose congregation, with the faithful of Dor Hadash and Tree of Life, had gathered at the synagogue during of the shooting, October 27.
The fact that hundreds of people came to the ceremony was no surprise to the leaders of the three congregations.
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"I do not think there are enough adjectives to describe the support of the community," said Myers, who ran the Shabbat services at the Tree of Life synagogue on October 27th.
"We are such a close-knit community," said Ilana Kohanbash, who attended the menorah ceremony with her husband, Jason. "It's also a wake up call to know what we need to do to keep our faith and (this) we need to take precautions. It could happen to anyone. "
The alleged gunman, Robert Bowers, raged against the Jews during and after the shooting, the authorities said. He remains incarcerated without bail and has pleaded not guilty to numerous charges of murder and hate crimes.
David Hausdorff, 53, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was in town on business and came to the lighting ceremony to show his support.
"It's unfathomable, this act of violence," Hausdorff said. This is unacceptable in any place of worship, let alone in a neighborhood in which I grew up. If I were not there to see him, I would not understand the totality of the emotional devastation. "
The lighting of the Menorah comes less than a week after the end of Shloshim, a period of 30-day mourning observed by the Jews as a result of a death.
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"We all start the process of "Go ahead," said Ellen Surloff, president of Dor Hadash, "You're going one day at a time, you have good and not so good days."
Although the armed man has targeted the Jewish community, Cohen warned that the shooting served as a warning.
"The reality is that it also affects other religious communities." He said. "We come together in fellowship and to help see if we can work together. What happened here is clearly a sign, a signal and it can not be ignored. "
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