The holidays look different for everyone this year, but finding creative ways to create a sense of togetherness is, more than ever, at the forefront of the 2020 holiday season. So, we asked Rabbi Yossi Freedman of the Downtown Chabad and Aseelah Shareef, director of operations and community engagement of Karamu House, to share some tips on how to safely celebrate Hanukkah and Kwanzaa this year.
Three Ways To Celebrate Hanukkah In 2020
Join A Car Parade
The Downtown Chabad is hosting a socially distanced car parade Dec. 13. The parade features decorated vehicles, a menorah lighting, live music and gifts for families and observers. “We're going to be doing a few less cars, just because of the staging and getting together,” Freedman says. “Logistically for COVID, it doesn't make sense to have too many people involved.”
Light The Menorah Together, Virtually
The Chabad is hosting a virtual menorah lighting and has menorahs available for pickup for families who do not have their own. “We strongly encourage people to celebrate together, you know, by at least doing the Menorah at home,” Freedman says. “We're not totally encouraging everybody to get together massive families.”
Give From A Distance
Though traditional gift-giving shouldn’t happen in person, you can still offer the traditional monetary Hanukkah gift. Not only is it more important than ever, as many people are struggling through the losses of jobs and uncertain incomes, it’s also easier than ever with Venmo, PayPal and Cash App, says the rabbi. “To actually give money, that is a Jewish custom,” he says. “And today, it's super easy and super simple to do that, to send family and friends. There's a lot of ways that you can share it with each other, [send it with] a happy Hanukkah message.”
For more information on events at Downtown Chabad, visit downtownchabad.com.
For four more tips to light up Hanukkah, check out this 2018 story.
Three Ways To Celebrate Kwanzaa In 2020
Tune In To A Virtual Celebration
Karamu House is hosting a virtual Kwanzaa celebration, similar to its virtual “Freedom On Juneteenth” events, beginning Dec. 26 and running through Jan. 1. “What we're putting together is a family experience that will educate the broader community about the cultural tradition of Kwanzaa,” Shareef says. “There will be live dance performance, there will be new performers involved, a really accessible family production.”
Embody the Spirit Of Kwanzaa
Togetherness is a tenent of Kwanzaa, and Shareef encourages observers to take comfort in the principles and pillars of the celebration in their daily lives all year long. “We think about unity, now more important than ever, to be unified as a collective front, we think about creativity,” Shareef says. “We talk about faith. I don’t think any of us can make it through without that now. These principles of Kwanzaa, they serve us throughout the year, they are accessible and things that we need to plug into on a daily basis.”
Cook at Home With Loved Ones
Though large community celebrations and community meals are a staple of Kwanzaa, people can still come together around the dinner table in their own homes to celebrate. Shareef encourages people to research traditional dishes and set their own traditions. “Now more than ever, I would just suggest that people take a look at whatever one of those traditions that are important to you,” Shareef says. “What traditions are important to you as a family? And what are those things that bring you together as family and make those established traditions moving forward?”
For more information on events at Karamu House, visit karamuhouse.org.
