How the Saskatoon Jewish community is celebrating Hanukkah
Sunday marked the first day of Hanukkah, also known as the festival of lights.
The eight day holiday celebrates the victory of a small Jewish army called the Maccabees and how they defeated a Syrian army that ruled over Jerusalem.
"It's a time that we think about what it means to be a Jew, when we dedicate ourselves to our faith. Hanukkah actually means dedication or rededication and spread the message of religious freedom," said Rabbi Raphael Kats, with the Chabad Jewish Centre in Saskatoon.
To celebrate that religious freedom, 25 menorah-topped cars at Meadows Market paraded though the city, travelling along 8th Street to the farmers market to light a grand menorah.
"It's important to show that you don't have to hide your faith, especially when there's haters around, there's anti-Semitism around, it's very important for the Jewish community to know that they can celebrate freely and openly," Kats said.
Menorahs, oily food and dreidels are some of the symbols that represent the holiday. The oily foods symbolize a small amount of oil that miraculously burned for eight days instead of one when the Jews rededicated a temple over 2,000 years ago.
A SENSE OF COMMUNITY
Hanukkah has a special meaning for Lauren Kronick who moved to Saskatoon from Toronto almost three years ago. Kronick says it’s the first time they're celebrating the holiday in person since living here.
"It's extra special to be in the same room with people who share your culture and religion and you can celebrate together," Kronick said.
Kronick says the sense of belonging they've gained in the Jewish community is something Hanukkah is all about.
'It's amazing to be in a room full of Jewish community members that I don't know and [have] it feel like home. It's like a home away from home since I'm not with my family right now."
For each day of Hanukkah, a new candle will be lit on the menorah until Dec. 6.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.