Dark times need illumination.
At 5 p.m. Thursday, 1,000 homes in the Pittsburgh area will light the first candle on their menorah celebrating the opening of Hanukkah, the festival of lights.
They will do it virtually because of the pandemic.
“It is so important that people stay connected,” said Adam Hertzman, director of marketing for the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, which is sponsoring the event. “This year has been so hard for everyone. The holidays are when people typically celebrate with family and friends.
“The idea that we can still gather while we are all so isolated is inspiring and we have hope because a vaccine is on the way. We will sustain that hope through this dark time of the year.”