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What do we say?

 Tonight we light the third candle of Chanukah.




Normally, the proper greeting during the holiday is Happy Chanukah or Chag Sameach. This year, after the murderous ranpage on Bondi Beach, not so much.


Three years ago on Simchat Torah ,Hamas invaded Israel. For decades I have been right at the center of the dancing on Simchat Torah at our synagogue. These days, my heart just isn't in it. I couldn't even go to Simchat Torah services the year after the war began. This year I went and hung back from the celebrations.



The Purim of  1996 there was a terrible terrorist attack in a Tel Aviv mall. I remember that that year none of the adults were in costume and they were just barely holding it together for the sake of their kids. The children were joyful and the adults filled with mourning.




I don't have any real answers about what to say this Chanukah.

 Perhaps the last two lines of Maoz Tzur are just about right

כִּי אָרְכָה לָנוּ הַשָּׁעָה וְאֵין קֵץ לִימֵי הָרָעָה.
For the time has delayed and there is no end to the days of evil


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