In the atmosphere of the war, we are reminded of a line from the song ‘Maoz Tzur Yeshuati’ that says “The evils of my soul are in grief, my strength is my bride”. In the state of war, many Israelis are looking to ventilate from the grief that consumes our strength. The cruise company MSC Cruises offers us to drive away the darkness of depression, and to sweeten the horrors of war with a variety of cruises to attractive destinations during the Hanukkah holidays.
A. Cruise for the entire Hanukkah holiday to the Atlantic Ocean – London, Paris, Rotterdam and Hamburg – a North Sea cruise on the luxury ship MSC Euribia that will leave the port of Southampton in the south of England on December 8, the Sunday of the Hanukkah holiday, for 7 nights. The ship will sail to the port of Le Havre in Paris, Seeburg in Belgium, Rotterdam in the Netherlands, Hamburg in Germany and return to the port of Southampton. Price: from $683 per person in a double interior room.
B. Cruise marked “Eight Days Shamno Nathan” to the Mediterranean Sea – Barcelona, Marseille, Naples and Palma de Mallorca. A cruise from Barcelona on the MSC Fantasia luxury ship that will depart on December 6, the eve of the lighting of the first Hanukkah candle, for 7 nights until the Friday candle of Hanukkah. The cruise will depart from Barcelona to Marseille in France, Genoa, La Spezia, and Naples in Italy, and Palma de Mallorca in Spain. Price: from $463 per person in a double interior room.
Jewish law also deals with the issue of lighting Hanukkah candles on a ship. The RMA ruled that a cabin on a ship is considered like a “house”, and therefore “even those who walk on the ship should light candles on their ship” (H.D., Kamo sign). The Maharashem and the Rabbinate disagree on it and write “since there are spirits there, the ship is not considered a house, and is therefore exempt from the mitzvot of lighting Hanukkah candles.” In our time, the dispute is not topical, since the international maritime laws prohibit lighting fires of any kind on board ships.
Eyal Atias, CEO of MSC Cruises Israel: “In the shadow of the period of war that prevails in Israel these days, there are also Israelis who wish to go out and freshen up for a few days. Every year, the days of the Hanukkah holiday are in demand in the tourism industry in general and the cruises in particular, despite the situation this year there is also a demand for Hanukkah vacations overseas also because this period is characterized by relatively low prices, which allows travelers to find particularly profitable deals.”
In the photo above: the luxury liner Fantasy courtesy of MSC-Cruises
