As part of the celebration of the Jewish holiday “Hanukkah,” also known as the “Festival of Lights,” we invite you to the lighting of the special 8-branched menorah by Rabbi Joseph Pinson, this Thursday at 5:30 PM, at the Christmas Village Ice Rink.
A Jewish holiday of rabbinic institution, Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the altar of offerings in the Second Temple of Jerusalem, following its return to Jewish worship, three years after its prohibition by Antiochus IV of the Seleucids. It marks an important military victory by the Maccabees and symbolizes the spiritual resistance of Judaism to forced Hellenization.
According to rabbinic tradition, during this rededication, the miracle of the oil flask occurred, allowing the Temple priests to burn for eight days a quantity of oil barely sufficient for one day.
