Local members of Jewish faith gather to mark the start of Hanukkah

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – On the primary evening of Hanukkah, members of the Jewish group had been refusing to let hate dim their mild.

One man KDKA spoke to Sunday evening stated though it is current on the earth, he does not wish to give attention to the darkness.

As a substitute, he stated, he seems to be on the positives taking place round him, including that even just a bit bit of sunshine can expel the darkness from any room.

It appears like a celebration in Squirrel Hill.

From soup to nuts, or on this case, beans to yams.

A menorah made totally of canned items was put collectively not solely to represent the message of Hanukkah however to additionally give again.

“We stay in an period [where] in case you do not do one thing uncommon, nobody seems to be your approach. So, we have to do one thing to catch consideration,” rabbi Yisroel Altein stated.

Nonetheless, an increase in antisemitism throughout the nation can also be catching a number of consideration.

A latest report from the Anti-Defamation League exhibits that anti-semitic incidents have gone up 200% up to now 5 years, with our space, western Pa., breaking a report in 2021 for probably the most incidents reported for the reason that Nineteen Seventies when the anti-hate group began holding observe.

“Our reply to antisemitism is to not cower away and to shrink back from it, however to come back out and present everybody that love and kindness will in the end prevail and it’ll win over all the things,” rabbi Yitzi Goldwasser stated.

Shows of that love, kindness, and resilient perspective had been evident throughout Sunday’s celebrations.

Each in Squirrel Hill and Greenfield.

“Simply to come back collectively and simply be one household primarily, one group, it is an incredible feeling,” Yitzy Idell stated. Idell serves on the Greenfield Group Affiliation Board.

A sense Jews all over the place will maintain in excessive regard whereas reaffirming their religion over the eight-day pageant of lights.

“Every evening we add an extra candle so we convey in additional mild into the world,” Idell added.

Gentle, members of Pittsburgh’s Jewish group stated, is so desperately wanted.

“Unfold the sunshine to your neighbor, to a pal, test on somebody, unfold the sunshine of Hanukkah, the message of Hanukkah, the heat and the love and the kindness, and collectively we’ll make the world an even bigger, a greater, a brighter place,” Goldwasser added.

Hanukkah celebrations might be going down throughout town over the following eight days, together with a Hanukkah pageant in Schenley Plaza.