MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – Dozens gathered around the outdoor lighting of the menorah on Lincoln Road on Thursday. Roger Abramson, who sculpted it out of seashells, said he decided not to be there this year to avoid the risk of coronavirus infection.
Rabbi Zev Katz, of the Chabad Jewish Synagogue of Miami Beach, was singing and dancing before the first night of Hanukkah, an eight-day celebration. He wore a face mask and said he was social distancing.
“You have got to show the love from a distance,” Katz said, adding the message of Hanukkah during this pandemic is that “there is light at the end of the tunnel.”
The diverse Jewish community in South Florida is celebrating Hanukkah with outdoor activities and smaller gatherings amid a surge in COVID-19 cases. Sabbath restrictions on the use of electronic devices do not apply to Hanukkah, so many families are opting for virtual celebrations.
Benjamin Enfield said his family is among those who decided to cancel the big family feast. He said he is not upset because he knows they will get together next year when it’s safer because they will have the protection of the coronavirus vaccine.
Tammy Woldenberg, of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, was at a Kosher food distribution drive-thru event. Some volunteers handed Hanukkah gifts for the children, as others loaded up cars’ trunks with groceries.
“We are trying to make things better for people who are really struggling,” Woldenberg said.
CORONAVIRUS SAFETY TIPS
Here are some precautions to help you celebrate safely:
- Celebrate at home with the people you live with and host a virtual gathering.
- If you decide to risk hosting a dinner, do it outside, limit the number of guests, clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and items between use. Use single-use options, like salad dressing and condiment packets, and disposable items like food containers, plates, and utensils. Limit the number of people in food preparation areas, have one person who is wearing protection serve food, or have guests bring their own food and drink.
- If you decide to attend a gathering, bring your own food, drinks, plates, cups, and utensils. Avoid going in and out of the areas where food is being prepared or handled. Bring extra supplies, such as masks and hand sanitizer. Stay at least 6 feet apart, or about two arm lengths, from anyone who does not live with you.
- When you are around people you don’t live with, wear a face mask with two or more layers over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin. Safely store your mask while eating and drinking.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Avoid touching your face mask, eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Safely prepare traditional dishes and deliver them to family and neighbors in a way that does not involve contact with others such as by leaving them on the porch.