At a Glance
- Adelaide Aldridge, 5, burst into tears after learning her family isn’t Jewish and wouldn’t celebrate Hanukkah
- Her mom Matilda posted the clip on Instagram, where it exploded with supportive messages and invitations
- Brooklyn neighbors and online strangers shared treats, gifts, and “honorary” community status
- Why it matters: The moment shows how kids embrace diversity-and how online kindness can turn disappointment into joy
A Brooklyn kindergartner’s tearful wish to join Hanukkah celebrations has become a viral reminder of community generosity. Matilda Aldridge captured the moment her daughter Adelaide, 5, realized her family wouldn’t be lighting menorah candles-and the internet responded with an avalanche of invites, gifts, and “honorary” Jewish status.
The Discovery That Sparked Tears
During a December dinner, Adelaide asked if they would celebrate Hanukkah. Matilda explained that while they respect the holiday, they aren’t Jewish. The news triggered an instant meltdown. In the video Matilda later posted to Instagram, Adelaide sobs, “Because I want treats on Hanukkah! And I wanna celebrate Hanukkah!”
Living in Brooklyn, Adelaide’s kindergarten class had spent the week learning about winter traditions. “Dinner conversations in our house are always a bit of an adventure,” Matilda tells News Of Los Angeles. “She’s a girl who loves a celebration, so the news was a bit of a heartbreak for her.”
From Tears to Invitations
The 30-second clip quickly racked up thousands of views and comments. Jewish viewers flooded the post with messages like “She’s invited to our house” and “We’ll adopt her for eight nights.” Matilda stitched a follow-up video showcasing the outpouring: handwritten notes, digital menorah GIFs, and invitations to local latke parties.
Sources tell News Of Los Angeles that several Brooklyn families dropped off small care packages-dreidels, chocolate gelt, and star-shaped cookies-so Adelaide could taste the holiday spirit. “Our incredible neighbors actually stepped in and shared some Hanukkah treats and gifts with her,” Matilda says.
Explaining Faith to a 5-Year-Old
Matilda admits the theology lesson was tricky. “It’s hard to explain to a 5-year-old that you can’t just ‘sign up’ for every holiday you see, especially one that looks as wonderful as Hanukkah.” She redirected Adelaide’s attention to their own Christmas traditions-gingerbread houses and a small tree-but the allure of eight nights of candles and gifts remained strong.
When asked if Adelaide now understands the difference, Matilda laughs: “I’d love to say she’s deeply interested in the historical significance, but let’s be real…she’s 5! Her friends were talking about eight nights of candles and treats, and she just wanted to be part of the fun.”
Community Embraces the Family
The kindness didn’t end online. One neighbor invited the Aldridge family to light the menorah together; another left a gift bag labeled “For our honorary member.” Adelaide returned from preschool one afternoon proudly waving a paper menorah she’d colored in class. “She now feels like an ‘honorary’ member of the community,” Matilda says, “which is honestly the best outcome we could have hoped for.”
A Mom’s Takeaway
Raising two toddlers in New York while her relatives live in Australia and the UK, Matilda keeps her Instagram feed unfiltered: “messy hair, stains, last-minute babysitters and the occasional mom-rage.” The warm reaction surprised her. “You never know how the internet will react, but this has been the most beautiful experience,” she says. “To see 99% positivity and people ‘claiming’ her with so much kindness…it’s a lovely reminder of how much we all have in common when it comes to family and tradition.”
Key Takeaways
- Adelaide’s classroom exposure to Hanukkah triggered envy, not exclusion
- Neighbors and strangers transformed disappointment into inclusion
- The moment highlights Brooklyn’s tight-knit, multicultural spirit
- Matilda plans to keep the video up as a digital keepsake of community love
