Rabbi Robin Nafshi of Temple Beth Jacob in Concord had to tweak her annual sermon this month while celebrating the eight nights of Hanukkah.

The Jewish holiday features a menorah with eight lights, lit once each night for the duration of the holiday. The lights signify a miracle in Jewish history and peace, but Nafshi had to add an element along the way, balancing her need to present a festive mood with the reality that Jewish hostages are still being held by Hamas and that the region remains mired in a bloody conflict that shows little sign of resolution.

“Clergy in particular have been trying to figure out how best to approach this,” said Nafshi, who’s been leading the congregation at Temple Beth Jacob for 13 years. “You don’t want it to be such a downer. You don’t want to turn this into a week-long of mourning.”

Nafshi’s ability to mix themes seamlessly has guided her through the past eight nights. She focused on the hostages, of course, but those thoughts were fueled by the symbolism of the holiday. Hope for the hostages. And hope for Palestinians caught in the crossfire. There’s always hope.

“It’s like much that is celebrated this time of year,” Nafshi said. “It’s about bringing light when there’s much darkness in the sky.”

Hanukkah commemorates the re-dedication of the Temple Jerusalem after Jewish fighters repelled the Greek army. A small amount of oil remained and burned, miraculously, for eight nights.

Hanukkah ended on Friday, but not before its symbol gave some comfort. Nafshi invited her congregation to bring menorahs to the temple on the first night of Hanukkah, which, this year, happened to fall on the Sabbath.

The area glowed with hope, set up on a big table in front of the synagogue. Menorahs everywhere.

“It was a special service and the music was different and we talked about Hamas,” Nafshi said. “We were singing and saying the blessings associated with lighting the menorah, then we had Hanukkah songs and then the service. It was a big draw and it was beautiful seeing all those lights together.”

Nafshi spoke to her congregation about the attack on Israel that reportedly killed 1,400 Jews near the border with Gaza. on Oct. 7 and triggered the current war.

“We do not hide from the realities surrounding us,” Nafshi said.

She made sure to differentiate Hamas fighters from Palestinian citizens. They’re under the umbrella of hope as well. Reports have put the number of Palestinians killed at close to 19,000.

“I made it clear in my sermon,” Nafshi said. “Israel is not at war with the Palestinian people, or Muslims or Arabs or any people. This is a war with Hamas, singularity with Hamas. We have hope for people to love and have peace, and without question, that includes the Palestinians.”

Rabbi Levi Krinsky, head of the Chabad of New Hampshire in Manchester, said every year brings unique trials and tribulations.

The globe, the planet, the Earth, he said, has a  long way to go.

“Don’t kid yourself, we’ve been in a mess every year,” Krinsky said. “If it wasn’t COVID survival, it was terrorism and the rise in anti-Semitism. There’s been a mess every year.”

Then, Krinsky pivoted, choosing to cast aside negative thoughts in favor of hope.

“If COVID taught us anything, it’s appreciate life,” Krinsky said. “Don’t be so angry at people. In our teachings we say, ‘After the darkness, the light will emerge, and the greater the darkness, the greater the light.’ ”

Both rabbis lamented the rise in anti-Semitism, saying Jewish people have left items like jewelry that identify their religion at home. Krinsky doesn’t like it.

“If you have a Chai necklace or a Star of David, put it on,” he said. “Don’t run and hide.”

Of course, you don’t have to look very far to see angst against Muslims as well. In Vermont, three college students of Palestinian descent were shot while simply walking down the street.

Nafshi wanted this year’s Hanukkah’s lights to shine and burn a little brighter, in more places than usual. She coordinated the menorah festival held in front of Temple Beth. And she lit two menorahs at her home. The extra one with the hostages in mind.

“I have a 9-year-old daughter,” Nafshi said. “We lit an extra menorah all through (the holiday) and explained why we did it and it became an important part of the ritual.”

 And while hope serves as a central theme for Hanukkah, fear wasn’t too far behind.

“It’s been a more somber mood, yes,” Nafshi said. “We were lighting the extra menorahs for the hostages, and that in and of itself gives this deeper meaning.”