For Bill Wallen of the Greater Altoona Jewish Federation, the Oct. 7 attack and the antisemitism it triggered have ratcheted up an unease he began to feel as a Jew in America after a gunman murdered 11 members of the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh in 2018.

Friday’s event mitigated that unease a little with its attendance, its symbolism of light in winter darkness, its commemoration of an ancient Jewish victory against oppressors and the rededication of the temple that followed.

But it didn’t eliminate his disquiet.

That unease is still an unaccustomed feeling and a dismaying one, because it’s not supposed to be like that here, where ethnic, religious and cultural differences should be celebrated, not a reason for condemnation, said Wallen, who took part in the Hanukkah ceremony.

Mirror photo by Rachel Foor / Rabbi Audrey Korotkin of Temple Beth Israel and Tony Conrad, director of chaplaincy at UPMC Altoona, take part in the lighting of the menorah Friday morning at UPMC Altoona.

The ceremony itself speaks to the new wave of antisemitism, however, because it’s all about being able to practice one’s religion freely, to let one’s light of faith shine out, Wallen said.

“There’s so much darkness in the world,” said Rabbi Audrey Korotkin, “particularly for Jewish people, who are threatened.”

Growing up in Philadelphia many decades ago, Wallen felt “different” because of his faith.

Other kids would ask why his family didn’t celebrate Christmas or why he didn’t “believe in Jesus,” he said.

“But we weren’t persecuted,” he said.

Then the 2018 massacre happened in Pittsburgh, where local Jews have many connections, he said.

That has been followed by other disturbing occurrences — some of them local and recent — including threatening anonymous letters received this summer by his federation and the two local Jewish congregations, along with antisemitic pamphlets found in the restroom of a local restaurant, Wallen said.

Even more recently, there was the pro-Palestinian demonstration in front of a Philadelphia restaurant owned by a Jewish man and the “equivocation” of Ivy League university presidents regarding calls for the elimination of Israel, Wallen said.

“Jews have always felt safe and free to practice Judaism” in America, he said. “I haven’t changed anything I’ve done, but I’ve had to think about it.”

Jews aren’t the only victims, Wallen said, citing the murder of a young Muslim boy in the Chicago area.

“Violence against Jews and Muslims is terrible,” he said.

Unlike Wallen, ceremony participant Neil Port hasn’t felt ill at ease personally due to the antisemitism that has been in the news.

But he’s not happy with what is going on.

“What’s happening in Israel and Gaza is tragic,” he said. “It’s had reverberations around the world, with a lot of anti-Jewish feeling and a lot of anti-Muslim feeling.”

The suffering is unlikely to end unless the Palestinians ultimately get their own state, Port said.

It was poignant Friday to imagine the Israeli hostages captured by Hamas trapped in the darkness of the tunnels beneath Gaza, he said.

“The world needs more light, it needs more harmony, and it needs more love,” Port said. “We’re living in darkness now.”

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.