Publish date: 19 December 2022
Hanukkah, the festival of lights is a Jewish festival marking a miracle which took place in Jerusalem over 2,000 years ago. The miracle occurred after the liberation of the Temple in Jerusalem during the Maccabean Revolt. It describes the finding of a jug of pure oil that was to be enough to light the lamp for one day, but lasted instead for eight days.
Kimberley Barlow, Consultant at the Cassel interviewed with Julia Renton, Clinical Director in of Community & Recovery Mental Health Services to discuss how she celebrates Hanukkah, and sheds more light around the festival. Listen to the full interview here.
Julia said “It's what we call the festival of lights and we commemorate it by lighting the Hanukkiah (candle) for eight nights. The tradition is to eat a lot of fried foods like latkes and donuts. The fried food and the lights are symbolic of the miracle of the oil.”
Hanukkah is traditionally celebrated for 8 days around the time of Christmas, depending on the lunar calendar. This year, Hanukkah is celebrated on the 18th December-26th December. The festival revolves around food, family and friends.
She continued “Hanukkah is about sharing the joy, miracles and everybody coming together. We display a Hanukkiah (candle) in the window to share the joy and the miracle of Hanukkah.”
“Traditionally, we exchange presents on each night with small gifts such as stationary or pyjamas.”
Dreidel, is a traditional game played at this time of year. A dreidel is a four-sided spinning top similar to a Teetotum.
Julia’s father was a refugee from Ostrava a city in the Czech Republic. When Julia’s father arrived in England, he was an architect and created a Hanukkiah (candle) with the remains of metal bolts and screws. Sadly, during the holocaust nobody from their family survived. But for Julia and her father, this Hanukkiah is greatly significant as it represents survival and a new start.
Thank you Julia for sharing your personal family story.
Happy Hanukkah to everyone celebrating in West London!