In the last year, Public Square’s tree lighting has seen a juvenile brawl and a shooting. Cleveland Police set up a perimeter around Public Square’s annual Hanukkah celebration to ensure everything went according to plan.
“It’s really special for us to be able to do it in the public sphere, which is something that started about 50 years ago in Philadelphia,” Rabbi Yossi Freedman said.
The Menorah is a symbol of freedom, according to Rabbi Freedman. Around 300 B.C., Jewish decedents were prosecuted for maintaining their religion, he added.
“A small Jewish army called the Maccabees came out against them and they won the war,” Rabbi Freedman explained. “The Jewish people are the past, present, and future. Hanukkah is one holiday that is also very celebrated in the open as a Jewish community, and that’s why we take advantage to invite other people in the community that are not yet observant to at least do this.”
Dozens of people attended Thursday’s celebration.
“Tonight’s been awesome. It’s just great to get together with the fellow community, be able to celebrate, light the candle, and remember in today’s time that it’s more important to be together as a community, and it’s just a wonderful time just to be able to get together around the holidays,” Joshua Snowden-Bahr said.