SARASOTA – All around the Suncoast many are continuing the celebration of the festival of lights by gathering with friends and family at local temples.
As Hanukkah draws closer to the end – members of the Temple Emanu-El gathered to eat, play traditional Hanukkah games and enjoy the spirit of the holiday together.
“We have a sold out crowd of families and congregants of all ages who have come together to celebrate the festival of lights,” says Rabbi Elaine Glickman.
More than a hundred people came to celebrate the last few nights of Hanukkah at Temple Emanu-El. Traditional food was served and kids had an area to make holiday crafts.
“Although Hanukkah is a ceremony-holiday that is usually based in the home, we’re also lucky to be able to celebrate it tonight as a congregation,” says Rabbi Glickman. She says the night’s celebration is to bring light to a world where there is darkness.
“We feel so lucky to have such a vibrant, have such as spirited, energetic, spiritual community,” says Rabbi Glickman. “To have people of all ages coming together to celebrate this holiday, to celebrate the miracles of Hanukkah, the light of Hanukkah, the religious delivery of our people and the values of religious freedom and tolerance.”
Teens from the religious school volunteered to give a helping hand in guiding the event and leading prayer. Aiden Pearson one of the teens served an important role.
“My name is Aiden Pearson and I am playing Judah Maccabee tonight. I’ll be telling the story of Hanukkah to the younger generation and then sharing some little holiday cheer with a little bit of dreidel and some gelt with them as well,” says Pearson.
Apart from volunteering Pearson is also a song leader at with the temples youth group.
“I think the importance of this is to bring the community together, especially after the tragedy in Pittsburgh. It’s really nice to see a large Jewish community together, especially a lot of young people showing that we are not alone,” he says.
At the end of the night Pearson hope many take away an important lesson from this gathering. “Bringing Jewish communities together is one of the most important things you can do. And one of these events is one of a kind and you don’t see this everywhere.”
