Next week Hanukkah will be celebrated in Ukraine like never before! Parades, public menorah lightings and parties are planned as Jews "Publicize the Miracle" that is the festival of lights. After enduring nearly two years of ongoing crisis, the people of Ukraine need our support and encouragement to celebrate with their families, see their children smile, and feel the kinship of their community. For this reason, we are working with rabbis and community leaders to engage as many people as possible to publicize the upcoming holiday and celebrate on a grand scale.
The campaign to “Publicize the Miracle” will include the distribution of thousands of special kits with sweets, Hanukkah Gelt, a menorah, candles, a Hanukkah magazine, a children’s booklet and more. Additionally, each family will receive a food package in support of our ongoing humanitarian aid. Thanks to the tireless efforts of staff and volunteers who prepared truckloads of holiday goodies, we will ensure no family is forgotten.
For next week, Ukrainian Jews are being asked to post pictures of their candle lightings on social media and earn a chance to win wonderful prizes! Large Hanukkah signs will be posted on outdoor billboards, a Ukrainian tradition, elevating the visibility of the holiday to new heights, spreading joy and excitement. These efforts are intended to generate an atmosphere of celebration and camaraderie, encouraging Jews to connect with their local communities and share in the festivities.
Many cities are planning parades that will include processions of cars adorned with colorful Hanukkah decorations. Community candle lighting events will include governors and mayors, under heavy security. There are also plans for prayer vigils to show of solidarity with the Jews in Israel, as the crisis there continues.
“We have both a central lighting and a festive event planned for the community,” shared Rabbi Mordechai Levenharz, in Kyiv. “Our goal this year is to reach every Jew by conducting home visits before Hanukkah and presenting them with the dazzling Hanukkah kit.” The Chief Rabbi of Mikolayiv, Shalom Dover Gottlieb is planning Hanukkah activities as well: "we are preparing for extensive activities,” he said, “engaging people of all ages in the community, with fun and interesting events." Rabbi Gottlieb added, “we are organizing home visits, aided by young local Jews. We’ve divided the city into various zones using an organized system of precise addresses, and we’re planning to reach every Jew with a Hanukkah kit, ensuring that no member of the community’s home remains unlit for Hanukkah."
We hope the celebration of Hanukkah in 2023 will be talked about for years to come! With your help we continue to save lives and restore hope.
