Light and hope united: Christmas meets CHANUKKA in Vienna!

Light and hope united: Christmas meets CHANUKKA in Vienna!

On December 24, 2024, not only the Christian Christmas is celebrated in Austria, but it also coincides with the Jewish CHANUKKA festival. This special overlap, which is lovingly referred to as "Christmas", shows that despite the fundamental differences between the two religions, there is a common desire for light and hope. The coordination committee for Christian-Jewish cooperation in Vienna announced that it was important to look over religious and cultural borders and to recognize universal values ​​that combine all people. In this spirit, the representatives of the committee of society wish you a Merry Christmas and a blessed CHANUKKA, emphasizing that diversity is an enrichment that brings people closer together. This message is particularly relevant against the background of current challenges such as the continuing conflict in the Holy Land and the growing anti -Semitism, as reported, among other things, Kathpress.

Celebrations and customs

While Christmas is celebrated, the eight -day CHANUKKA, which continues until January 2, begins. In many cities, CHANUKKA candlesticks adorn public places, supplemented by Christmas trees. The nine -armed candlestick, also called CHANUKKIA, is the focus, with the shameful, which is used to light the other candles. A special highlight is the large CHANUKKA candlestick, which was set up in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin on December 23. This annual tradition is organized by the Orthodox Chabad movement, which awaits the ruling mayor of Berlin, Kai Wegner, for the solemn act of the Candle Cunus on December 29.

The simultaneous celebration of Christmas and CHANUKKA, which some call "Christmas", comes across mixed reactions within the Jewish community. While some welcome this ironic fusion of traditions, others look at them skeptically. Both festivals are often celebrated in religiously mixed families. However, rabbi and municipal councils have expressed the concerns that this mixing could water down the cultural identity of the Jewish tradition. Regardless of the different opinions, the time change of the festivals shows the pressing hope of peace and light in the middle of the dark, such as Rabbi Jonah Sievers in a contribution to the Jewish community in Berlin. CHANUKKA is said to remind you that even in challenging times the light can win over the darkness, which is all the more important after the terrorist attack of Hamas on October 7, 2023 burdened the Jewish community.

For more information you can report on the reporting of Kathpress and Jewish general read.