8 Nights, 8 Actions

 

This HanukkahThe holiday which celebrates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem following its conquest by the Syrians in 165 BCE. The holiday is celebrated by lighting candles in a hanukiyah oon each of eight nights. Other customs include the eating of fried foods such as latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiot (jelly donuts), playing dreidl (a gambling game with a spinning top), and, in present day America, gift giving., we rededicate ourselves to the fight to end police violence and racial profiling.

 

As we light the Chanukah candles, we remember those who have lost their lives to racist police violence. We remember the lives they lived and the loved ones they left behind, and we dedicate the Chanukah flame to their memory.

 

As we light the Chanukah candles, we remind ourselves that police violence can and must stop. Each night we take one action to move us closer to the world we long for, free of racism, violence and injustice.

 

This ritual toolkit provides opportunities to join the movement in different ways. Each night we have an option to take different kinds of action in the fight for Black lives, for racial justice, and to continue the call for accountability and justice for all victims of police brutality and violence. This ritual toolkit offers two paths to action: Option 1, a social media action, or Option 2, an activity directed toward the demands of Ferguson Action. We recognize that a successful movement needs many different kinds of contributions. May all of our contributions, whether in our homes or on the streets, bring about a society where Black lives matter.

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CHANUKAH BLESSINGS

Each night, candles are placed in the menorahThe seeven-branched menorah stood in the Temple, and many present-day synagogues feature the menorah. Titus' arch depicts the Romans' sacking of the Temple and theft of the menorah. A nine-branched menorah called a Hanukkiyah is lit on Hanukkah to symbolize the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days., also called the chanukiah (a nine-branched candelabra), from right to left. The shamash (taller helper) candle is lit first each night. Then the blessings are recited, after which the shamash is used to light the other candles, moving from left to right so that the newest candles is lit first each night. According to the TalmudThe rabbinic compendium of lore and legend composed between 200 and 500 CE. Study of the Talmud is the focus of rabbinic scholarship. The Talmud has two versions, the main Babylonian version (Bavli) and the smaller Jerusalem version (Yerushalmi). It is written in Rabbinic Hebrew and Aramaic., the chanukiah is placed in front of the house or a window for all to see, unless such exposure might

be endangering (Babylonian Talmud ShabbatShabbat is the Sabbath day, the Day of Rest, and is observed from Friday night through Saturday night. Is set aside from the rest of the week both in honor of the fact that God rested on the seventh day after creating the world. On Shabbat, many Jews observe prohibitions from various activities designated as work. Shabbat is traditionally observed with festive meals, wine, challah, prayers, the reading and studying of Torah, conjugal relations, family time, and time with friends. 21b).

 

KavannahLit. Intention Refers both to one’s intention when performing a mitzvah or when focusing for prayer. Kavanah also refers to specific readings to help focus one's attention prior to performing an act./Intention before lighting candles:

 

Read aloud: As we light each candle, we remember the souls whose light has been extinguished too soon because of police violence. As we create more and more light each night of Chanukah, we commit ourselves to working for police accountability and an end to the systemic racism that has led to the death of too many divine lights.

 

 

On the first night, we say:

 

Read aloud: As we light this candle on the 1st night of Chanukah, we remember Michael Brown. May Michael’s memory be for a blessing.

 

(Recite Chanukah blessings)

 

Read aloud: With this dedication we are moved by our Jewish values that teach us, “Justice! Justice you shall pursue!” and tonight we take action to carry out the vision called for by Ferguson Action organizers.

 

Read aloud: As we light this candle on the 2nd night of Chanukah, we remember Yvette Smith. May Yvette’s memory be for a blessing.

 

(Recite Chanukah blessings)

 

Read aloud: With this dedication we are moved by our Jewish values that teach us, “Justice! Justice you

shall pursue!” and tonight we take action to carry out the vision called for by Ferguson Action organizers.

 

Read aloud: As we light this candle on the 3rd night of Chanukah, we dedicate this flame to the memory of Aiyana Mo’Nay Stanley Jones. May Aiyana’s memory be for a blessing.

 

(Recite Chanukah blessings)

 

Read aloud: With this dedication we are moved by our Jewish values that teach us, “Justice!

Justice you shall pursue!” and tonight we take action to carry out the first of six demands called for by Ferguson Action organizers.

 

Read aloud: As we light this candle on the 4th night of Chanukah, we remember Rekia Boyd. May Rekia’s memory be for a blessing.

 

(Recite Chanukah blessings)

 

Read aloud: With this dedication we are moved by our Jewish values that teach us, “Justice! Justice you shall pursue!” and tonight we take action to carry out the second of six demands called for by Ferguson Action organizers:

 

Read aloud: As we light this candle on the 5th night of Chanukah, we remember Tamir Rice. May Tamir’s memory be for a blessing.

 

(Recite Chanukah blessings)

 

Read aloud: With this dedication we are moved by our Jewish values that teach us, “Justice! Justice you shall pursue!” and tonight we take action to carry out the third of six demands called for by Ferguson Action organizers.

 

Read aloud: As we light this candle on the 6th night of Chanukah, we remember Tarika Wilson. May Tarika’s memory be for a blessing.

 

(Recite Chanukah blessings)

 

Read aloud: With this dedication we are moved by our Jewish values that teach us, “Justice! Justice you shall pursue!” and tonight we take action to carry out the fourth of six demands called for by Ferguson Action organizers.

 

Read aloud: As we light this candle on the 7th night of Chanukah, we remember Dante Parker. May Dante’s memory be for a blessing.

 

(Recite Chanukah blessings)

 

Read aloud: With this dedication we are moved by our Jewish values that teach us, “Justice! Justice you shall pursue!” and tonight we take action to carry out the fifth of six demands called for by Ferguson Action organizers:

 

Read aloud: As we light this candle on the 8th night of Chanukah, we remember Eric Garner. May Eric’s memory be for a blessing.

 

(Recite Chanukah blessings)

 

Read aloud: With this dedication we are moved by our Jewish values that teach us, “Justice! Justice you shall pursue!” and tonight we take action to carry out the sixth of six demands called for by Ferguson Action organizers.

 

 

As Chanukah draws to a close, let us rededicate ourselves to working for racial justice in the coming months and years by making a specific commitment. Spend some time looking into organizations in your community working on issues of racial justice, such as police accountability, racial profiling, and the prison industrial complex, to name a few. What organizations, particularly those led by people of color, are doing this work? What issues are they addressing? How can you support their work? What work can be done in your Jewish community to invite frank conversations—and plans for action— about racism in the Jewish community? Write down two or three ways you commit to take action in the coming months and beyond.