< strong>Hanukkah is a time for family\, friends\, and the community to come together to celebrate and share in the joy of the holiday. Wishing you a happy and memorable Hanukkah! Festival of lights co mmemorating the recapture and rededication of the Jerusalem Temple. *Begins at sundown December 7th. < /p>
The eight-day Jewish celebration known as Hanukkah commemorates the r ededication during the second century B.C. of the Second Temple in Jerusale m\, where Jews had risen up against their Greek-Syrian oppressors in the Ma ccabean Revolt. This group of Jews are known as the Maccabees. The name was formed from the first letters of a Hebrew phrase\, “Mi Kamocha Ba’eilim Ha shem\,” which translates to “Who is like You\, God.”
Each night as th e sun sets\, one branch of the Hanukkah menorah is lit by the shamash\, mak ing up the ninth and tallest branch on the menorah. Traditionally\, candles are lit from right to left\, although there is no one correct order in whi ch to place and light the candles.
Prayers accompany each night’s can dle lighting. Once the menorah is lit\, it is often placed in a door or win dow that faces the street to share the light with neighbors. Traditional so ngs follow throughout the evening. Food plays an important part in Hanukkah \, which includes those fried in oil to commemorate the miracle\, especiall y ‘latkes’ and ‘sufganiyot.’
The five traditional activities during Hanukkah: Lighting the Menorah\, playing the dreidel\, eati ng gelt\, baking delicious food\, and enjoying the fun of sending and recei ving Hanukkah gifts.
Upcoming Events:
Hanukkah foods and fun:
Traditi
onal Hanukkah foods include deep-fried jelly donuts called sufganiyot and p
otato pancakes called latkes. Both dishes are fried and represent the long-
lasting lamp oil.