FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS: Community gathering this weekend to celebrate Hanukkah

Published 1:19 pm Friday, November 26, 2021

Despite it being the first year amid the ongoing pandemic, the 2020 menorah lighting was largely successful. 

For the second time, local citizens and those from surrounding counties will have a unique opportunity to celebrate Hanukkah in Milledgeville with the lighting of a menorah in the plaza on West Hancock Street.

Allison Bloodworth’s efforts to begin the now annual event first started a couple of years ago when she was driving through the downtown area with her young son and he questioned why there was nothing in place to celebrate Hanukkah. She explained to him that the Jewish population was a minority, and that was typically just the way things were. 

“But I thought to myself, ‘It doesn’t have to be that way,’” Bloodworth said. “Especially this day and age, we have become so much more inclusive as a society because we are a diverse population of people.”

Bloodworth had grown up feeling the same way her son was feeling at the time, though.

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“I do understand that feeling of just kind of not fitting in with certain things, and I didn’t want my kids to feel that way and other kids to feel that way,” she said.

So, she approached city officials to ask if a menorah could be placed downtown. Since the Christmas tree is privately funded, she learned that the menorah would have to be as well, and that’s when the wheels began turning. Bloodworth approached her rabbi as well as some family members and friends, and she began fundraising for the cause.

The result of those efforts was the purchase of the 9-foot menorah and the beginning of a new community tradition. Last year’s first turnout was a great success.

“The amount of support from the community was incredible,” Bloodworth said.

Even with a surge in COVID-19 cases during at the time, more than 100 people came out to take part in the festivities. Bloodworth said one of the most meaningful aspects for her was being able to see not only her kids, but Jewish children from surrounding areas as well, have a way to celebrate.

“[They] were so excited to see something that represented something that we celebrate during winter holidays, and it meant so much to the kids and to a lot of the community members who are Jewish to see something like that in a small town,” she said. “It was pretty awesome.”

Bloodworth said the menorah lighting is an event that she first became invested in for her kids, but she is proud of the conversation and awareness that have been encouraged by this event.

This year’s lighting will take place on the first evening of Hanukkah, Sunday, Nov. 28, at 6 p.m.

On that first evening, the lighting of the first candle will take place, and then Bloodworth said a rabbi from Macon will lead the group in prayer. Event-goers will then sing Hanukkah songs, and Bloodworth said there will be dreidels for the children in attendance to pick and take home.

Bloodworth said an additional candle will be illuminated every 24 hours at 6 p.m. through the eighth night of Hanukkah. She said while there are eight nights of Hanukkah, there are actually nine lights because there is a Shamash, or helper candle, which helps light all of the other candles.

In addition, Bloodworth said that this year, students from Georgia College’s Hillel chapter will also be involved, visiting on different nights throughout the remainder of the week to pray, gather and spend time with one another.

Milledgeville Main Street Executive Director Carlee Schulte said she feels the menorah lighting is a good way for the city and community to show inclusiveness and diversity in religion through the holidays.

“I just think it’s good to show the community and children alike that being inclusive and appreciating and accepting of other people’s beliefs is very important,” she said.