Richmond’s Jewish community was determined to not let the tragedy that took place at a New York menorah lighting Saturday night dim their celebration the next day, which marked the end of Hannukah.
In fact, “the best way to combat darkness and hate is with light and love,” said Michael Sachs, the past-president of Richmond’s Bayit Synagogue.
“We want to light up our menorah to shine a light on the fact that the way we are going to respond to hatred is love, kindness and good deeds.”
On Dec. 29, dozens of members of the local Jewish community came together with Levi Varnai, a rabbi with Richmond’s Bayit synagogue, to light the eighth candle of Hanukkah, hoping to shed light during a “dark time” for the Jewish community.
That dark time refers to the previous night when people gathered at a rabbi’s home in New York to celebrate the seventh night of Hanukkah. In the midst of the event, a man with a machete entered the home and wounded five people.
Saturday was the seventh night of Hanukkah, the Jewish eight-day wintertime “festival of lights.”
In response to the attack, Sachs began using the hashtag “light against hate” on different social media platforms to show solidarity with, and support for, its victims. The concept has spread across North America over the last 20 hours.
According to Sachs, he has received an outpouring of love and support since launching the campaign.
“Every synagogue in Vancouver used that hashtag,” said Sachs, adding that the idea has also gained support from the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver.
“We are hearing and reading about the hatred towards the Jewish community, but in Richmond and across Canada, many people who are non-Jewish are standing up and saying, ‘no,’”
“We are grateful to all those who try to bring more light into the world and drive out the darkness.”
Also joining the event on Sunday night were Ezra S. Shanken, CEO with the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, Richmond councilor Chak Au and Bill McNulty and B.C. Liberal MLA John Yap.
