In 165 BCE\, a small group of Judean rebel
s called the Maccabees fought against the Assyrian empire for the right to
worship as they pleased. The Assyrians under the rule of Antiochus had ou
tlawed the Jewish religion and desecrated the Temple in Jerusalem. The Mac
cabees defeated the much greater force of Assyrian soldiers\, guaranteed r
eligious freedom\, and rededicated the Temple. The Eternal Flame in the Te
mple needed to be relit\, but there was only enough oil to last for one da
y. Messengers sent for more oil\, but their journey took eight days. The s
mall amount of oil kept the Flame lit for all eight days. Hanukkah is the
joyous celebration of that victory over darkness. To remember this victory
\, Jewish people all over the world light a special candelabra called a me
norah\, adding one candle each day for eight nights. In this program\, we
will explore the many ways that Hanukkah is celebrated\, share stories\, l
earn songs\, and make our own Hanukiot.
Free and open to the p
ublic. Seating is on a first-come\, first-served basis and may be limited.