Chanukah brings with it light for the household and for the family – candle lighting, familiar customs, and uplifting tunes. When dealing with a person with dementia it can have almost the opposite effects. On the one hand, they are faced with a change in daily routine which can aggravate and confuse them. On the other hand, the experience awakens joyous memories together with the family. This matter brings up numerous discussions surrounding halacha, mental health, and ethics. We will address these in the guidelines below.

This guide is the result of the collaboration between Tzohar and Emda.

Rabbi Yuval Cherlow and Dr. Shelley Sternberg in a digital meeting on ethics, medicine and halacha in Caring for People With dementia