Jamaica to celebrate Hanukkah in Negril

Chabad of Jamaica, in partnership with the Jamaica Tourist Board, will host Jamaica’s first-ever One Love, One Light music festival at Chances Beach in Negril on Sunday, December 29. Open to the public, this special event will bring together over 1,000 visitors and locals for a night of unity and music. The concert will feature the Maccabeats, a world-renowned a cappella group celebrated for their hit song, Candlelight.

“We are so blessed to have the world-famous Maccabeats in Jamaica for the very first time sharing their amazing talent with us,” Rabbi Yaakov Raskin, Chabad of Jamaica’s director, noted in a release.

“This concert is a unique opportunity to promote diversity and understanding among people of all ages, backgrounds, and religions.”

The One Love, One Light concert will also include a Hanukkah celebration and Menorah lighting. Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish festival, commemorates the rededication of the ancient temple in Jerusalem by the Maccabees in 167 BCE. Guests at the concert will enjoy traditional kosher Hanukkah foods, including potato pancakes, jelly donuts, and chocolate gelt, along with a meaningful celebration of light, faith, and unity.

“Hanukkah represents the victory of light, freedom, and faith over darkness, oppression, and despair,” said Rabbi Raskin. “Each of us has a role to play in that victory. Every day, we can increase our acts of goodness and kindness and remain faithful to G-d’s ways.”

Proceeds from the concert will support Chabad of Jamaica’s disaster relief initiatives, which provide essential supplies such as water, food, and medicine to communities affected by natural disasters, including Hurricane Beryl. Over the years, these programmes have helped thousands of people across Jamaica and will be bolstered by the funds raised at this event.

As part of the event, each attendee will receive a small yellow charity box called an ARK (Acts of Random Kindness), encouraging regular charitable giving. This initiative is part of Chabad of Jamaica’s ethical education programme, designed to inspire acts of goodness and kindness to create a better and kinder world.

The event is scheduled to run 5 to 9 p.m.