Many Jewish Americans are already accustomed to more intimate celebrations of a holiday focused more on the home than on the synagogue, including Haredim or ultra-Orthodox communities.
So the recent successful Supreme Court challenge to New York restrictions on in-person worship by some Orthodox groups won't mean much as far as their Hanukkah plans.
But such large gatherings are "not an essential part of the holiday on any level whatsoever,” he added.
“Family gatherings are going to be limited, with or without the Supreme Court decision,” he said.
“It will be much, much smaller,” she said, adding that many others in their community were planning intimate gatherings just with immediate family members.