Hanukkah celebration in Grimma

We from the "Tor nach Zion" association also celebrated Hanukkah in Grimma/Hohnstädt. We met on a cold December evening in the cosy Göschenhaus. People from Grimma and the surrounding area came to celebrate with us. Everyone brought something for our buffet so that we had a richly laid table. The evening began with songs and singing together. Then the candlestick, the Hanukkia, was lit. We paused at each candle and prayed for God's people and Israel. Christian Rebs, former youth leader from Grimma, then gave an impressive sermon about the light of the world and Hanukkah. He also referred to the current situation in Israel. Before the consecration of the Temple in 165 BC, many devout Jews died as martyrs and then in the Maccabees' battles against the Greeks, who wanted to destroy Judaism. The unimaginable cruelty of the massacre and the hostage-taking by Hamas on 7 October 23 made us pause in sympathy. Then we ate. Because Hanukkah is a happy festival, Manfred Hoffmann read us some curious Jewish stories and anecdotes in between. At the end, of course, we played dreidels. This game is actually for children on Hanukkah. However, as there were only two children, some adults joined in the game without further ado. There were even prizes to be won. We ended this wonderful evening cheerfully and with grateful hearts.