#religiousheritage

As winter settles in and the nights grow longer, Hanukkah arrives as a quiet but powerful reminder that light still wins. The Festival of Lights is not about spectacle or excess; it’s about remembrance, resilience, and faith carried forward one flame at a time.

Hanukkah tells an ancient story of perseverance. A small people, a threatened faith, and a miracle that came not through abundance, but through faithfulness. One day’s worth of oil burned for eight. That alone should stop us in our tracks. In a world obsessed with having more, Hanukkah teaches us the power of standing firm with what is right.

Each night, as the menorah is lit, we’re reminded that light does not need permission to shine. It doesn’t argue with darkness it simply exists, and darkness retreats. Every candle represents hope, endurance, and the quiet strength of tradition passed down through generations.

This season is also about family and community. Gathering together, sharing meals, laughter, and stories these are the things that anchor us when the world feels unstable. Hanukkah doesn’t rush. It asks us to slow down, to be present, to remember who we are and where we come from.

May the glow of the menorah warm your home and steady your heart. May it remind you that miracles still happen, that faith still matters, and that even the smallest light can change everything.

Wishing you joy, peace, and steadfast hope throughout Hanukkah and into the year ahead.

Religious heritage stands at a crossroads in contemporary society, struggling with shifting social dynamics and evolving urban landscapes. The masterclass on Religious Heritage (7th-8th March 2024) explored these challenges and opportunities in transforming religious buildings during secular shifts within our societies. Experts discussed the dominant role of religious heritage in urban contexts and its modern relevance in towering above the main cityfabric.

Central themes included changes in religious buildings' societal role as our identities become more liquid with an importance of vulnerability. Churches are urged to create spaces for human connection beyond rituals, aligning with core faith principles and take up their function of care for humanity once more. Discussion becomes central instead of authority.

The role of religious buildings in shaping urban social environments nowadays should put the focus on community engagement and inclusive spaces over dominating a neighbourhood and working with exclusion. Projects like the multireligious house in Bern showcase religious heritage's continued relevance. The speakers emphasized adaptive strategies to ensure religious heritage's vitality and relevance in diverse urban landscapes. By embracing secularization and fostering inclusivity, religious institutions can contribute to community well-being and social cohesion, preserving invaluable cultural assets for the future whilst fulfilling their spatial anchorrole.

~ The masterclass was organized by the Future of Religious Heritage initiative and the University of Bologna with sponsorship from the European Union.