Large nine-foot menorah will light up Guelph for Hanukkah
Posted Dec 15, 2024 06:30:00 AM.
Last Updated Dec 13, 2024 05:36:24 PM.
Despite seeing a rise in antisemitism since the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, the Jewish community in Guelph is celebrating Hanukkah this year with large public displays.
It’s been running for eight-years at Guelph City Hall’s Market Square. This year a nine-foot-tall menorah is set to be lit up Dec. 26.
It will be lit up around 4:30 p.m. after elected officials help open up the celebration with speeches.
It was arranged by the Chabad of Guelph and Rabbi Raphi Steiner. They added the Funukkah Fair for the second time this year, which Steiner says has a bunch of new activities.
That fair will run after the menorah is lit, it includes a Dreidel scavenger hunt, an oil press workshop and a Sufganiyot Decorating Bar (which are more commonly referred to as jelly doughnuts.)
Rabbi Steiner mentioned more people want to be together in the Jewish community this year because of the rise in antisemitism behaviour.
“I have lived here in Guelph for 10-years and in the last year and a half, I’ve seen more and more hostile activity against the Jewish community – it’s unfortunate – I would love to believe that’s not what Guelph is,” said Rabbi Steiner.
“After Oct. 7, many jews in our community felt isolated, afraid and sometimes targeted. Now more then ever it’s important for the Jewish community to be together and to come out and share our holiday with everyone around us.”
The event is free and open to the public to attend.
