CANFIELD — While Hanukkah usually brings congregations and families together, this year has become more challenging with the coronavirus pandemic.

Temple El Emeth in Liberty, which would have had its members gathering at the temple for the lighting of the menorah nightly for the next week, has gone online this holiday season.

On Thursday’s first night of celebration — via Zoom — Eliana and Zachary Schonberger and their daughter, Marleigh, 6, of Boardman, lit the menorah at Rabbi Joseph Schonberger’s home in Canfield.

“It is a honor to be selected as the family to light the menorah for the first night. Marleigh was very excited to be part of this. Everything has to be done on Zoom this year,” Eliana said.

“We are proud to be a part of this,” Zachary said.

Marleigh said she looks forward to spending time with family as her mother helped her light one candle for the first night.

Each night of the eight days of Hanukkah, a different family from the congregation was selected to light the menorah’s candles at the evening services led by Joseph Schonberger.

Lori Szoke-Schonberger of Canfield said it is still important to be able to get together with family during Hanukkah even if it is fewer people than usual.

“It’s nice to get gifts and also to enjoy all the food. It is an enjoyable time of year even with COVID-19 going on,” she said.

Eliana said she is thankful to be able to get together with her family during a very stressful year.

Joseph Schonberger, who was seated at a table in his home seeing many families and congregation members online, said “This is a time when people can exercise the priorities of the spirit instead of the competition people have in life. People need to be better together.”

He said Hanukkah emphasizes freedom and liberation from persecution.

“Now that we have all faced COVID-19, we all want to be liberated from that in order to be able to observe our faith,” Joseph Schonberger said.

Because of social distancing guidelines, many Hanukkah events have gone to a virtual format with synagogues across the Valley making adjustments.

Schonberger said this is the best way for members of his temple to worship safely and celebrate the holiday.

“Relatives and friends who aren’t able to see each other for a whole year now, and so we have to compensate for that in however we can make contact,” he said.

Schonberger said he believes his congregation will still get the same Hanukkah experience despite worshipping virtually.

Hanukkah began Thursday at sunset and runs through nightfall Dec. 18.

bcoupland@tribtoday.com