Israelis gathered once more on Thursday night within the Tel Aviv sq. the place for 2 months protesters have known as for the discharge of hostages in Gaza, however this time they got here to mark the beginning of Hanukkah.
Holding indicators that bore the faces of the 138 folks still held hostage and sporting T-shirts, necklaces and yellow bracelets that demanded “convey them residence now,” the attendees stated this yr’s Hanukkah was not a vacation to remain residence, however one to assemble and assist each other.
“Maybe there’s one thing within the energy of getting collectively,” Julia Ferment stated. “Maybe a few of this vitality, this power, will get to them.”
Relations of hostages, teams of buddies and troopers huddled quietly near an extended desk with 138 candles, one for every lacking cherished one. Relations and buddies had been invited to mild the yellow candles. Afterward they had been embraced as they moved to the entrance of the gang.
The Hanukkah blessings, which in Jewish custom are repeated on eight nights, held a brand new that means for the lots of that sang alongside, some with tears of their eyes, some with their eyes sealed shut, arms on coronary heart.
Just a few miles south in Ramla, one other group of Israelis gathered to mark the start of the vacation at a military base. The reservists, many with graying hair and households again residence, delighted to search out conventional Hanukkah pastries — jelly doughnuts known as sufganiyot — ready for them after they walked into the warehouse for dinner. One other reservist had simply proudly sprinkled powder sugar on prime of the pastries.
Rabbi Arie Levin, a father of 11 who often works in Tel Aviv, gathered the group across the desk holding the doughnuts and a menorah. There’s loads of darkness, he stated, then pointed on the menorah, and right here’s somewhat mild. He lit a candle.
It was the third time he had lit a menorah that evening. He had already carried out candles with one other group of troopers on the opposite facet of the bottom and with a gaggle of people that had been residing in a Tel Aviv lodge, displaced from their properties within the north and the south of Israel. Quickly, he would depart the military base to journey again residence and be part of the households of hostages for an additional candle lighting at a synagogue.
When the menorah was lit in Ramla, the troopers danced to a standard Hanukkah music. In Tel Aviv, the air was nonetheless when the candles had been aflame. Nearly instantly, a voice behind the gang began the mantra that has echoed on this sq. for greater than 60 days.
“Now, now, now, now,” the folks stated.