First and foremost we want to wish you a Happy Hanukkah. May partaking in a ritual steeped in Jewish perseverance add a flicker of light or a whisper of hope during these dark times. Lighting the menorah feels more poignant than ever.
These last two months have been incredibly difficult and overwhelming. The continued rise of antisemitism on Canadian soil, and in other parts of the world, has been horrifying to watch and, in some cases, experience. Whether it’s university campuses, the workplace, or your child’s day school, the violent rhetoric and threats toward Jews are abhorrent and must be condemned. Bomb threats are being made, swastikas are being spray painted, and Jewish community centres and synagogues are being targeted. We fear for our physical safety. We fear for our mental health. This is a time of great stress. Two months in and there are days where it still feels unbelievable. How are we supposed to navigate this moment? It’s a question that comes up for both of us every day, as I’m sure it does for you, and we don’t think we’ll ever have an answer.
It saddens us that some members in the Jewish community no longer wear their Magen David necklace, or have a mezuzah by their front door, or are afraid to even say they are Jewish, or Israeli. For some, how they move through the world has not changed while others’ Jewish pride has grown louder. There is no right way to be Jewish but during this time we must try to find it in ourselves not to shrink away from our Judaism, but wear it proudly.
In this issue you’ll find Rabbi Mark Glickman trying to comfort, and find comfort, through sermon; various Jewish community members sharing their feelings about the impossible state of the world since October 7; and miraculously, Jewish joy. Yes. You read us right. There is joy in a delicious Hanukkah recipe, menorah making arts and crafts, and moving artwork that will lift your spirits. Even in times of darkness, beauty is still around us, we just have to look a little bit harder.
For the issue cover we gathered inspiration from Rosi Posner’s famous 1931 photograph. She used her compact camera to capture the view from her window in Kiel, Germany. In the foreground sits a menorah by a windowsill as a Nazi flag is draped outside a building across the street. The image is powerful, showcasing the defiant and resilient nature of the Jewish people in a time of unimaginable terror. We wanted to capture this sentiment on our cover. As a community we are facing the darkest days since the Holocaust, yet we are also witnessing moments of unity and hope.
This Hanukkah we pray for peace, we pray for humanity, and we pray for a brighter tomorrow.
Warmly,
Clarrie & Orly
First and foremost we want to wish you a Happy Hanukkah. May partaking in a ritual steeped in Jewish perseverance add a flicker of light or a whisper of hope during these dark times. Lighting the menorah feels more poignant than ever.
These last two months have been incredibly difficult and overwhelming. The continued rise of antisemitism on Canadian soil, and in other parts of the world, has been horrifying to watch and, in some cases, experience. Whether it’s university campuses, the workplace, or your child’s day school, the violent rhetoric and threats toward Jews are abhorrent and must be condemned. Bomb threats are being made, swastikas are being spray painted, and Jewish community centres and synagogues are being targeted. We fear for our physical safety. We fear for our mental health. This is a time of great stress. Two months in and there are days where it still feels unbelievable. How are we supposed to navigate this moment? It’s a question that comes up for both of us every day, as I’m sure it does for you, and we don’t think we’ll ever have an answer.
It saddens us that some members in the Jewish community no longer wear their Magen David necklace, or have a mezuzah by their front door, or are afraid to even say they are Jewish, or Israeli. For some, how they move through the world has not changed while others’ Jewish pride has grown louder. There is no right way to be Jewish but during this time we must try to find it in ourselves not to shrink away from our Judaism, but wear it proudly.
In this issue you’ll find Rabbi Mark Glickman trying to comfort, and find comfort, through sermon; various Jewish community members sharing their feelings about the impossible state of the world since October 7; and miraculously, Jewish joy. Yes. You read us right. There is joy in a delicious Hanukkah recipe, menorah making arts and crafts, and moving artwork that will lift your spirits. Even in times of darkness, beauty is still around us, we just have to look a little bit harder.
For the issue cover we gathered inspiration from Rosi Posner’s famous 1931 photograph. She used her compact camera to capture the view from her window in Kiel, Germany. In the foreground sits a menorah by a windowsill as a Nazi flag is draped outside a building across the street. The image is powerful, showcasing the defiant and resilient nature of the Jewish people in a time of unimaginable terror. We wanted to capture this sentiment on our cover. As a community we are facing the darkest days since the Holocaust, yet we are also witnessing moments of unity and hope.
This Hanukkah we pray for peace, we pray for humanity, and we pray for a brighter tomorrow.
Warmly,
Clarrie & Orly