Festival of Lights

Amy R. Spurgeon

Jewish families throughout the community will be lighting the first

candle of the menorah today to signal the beginning of Hanukkah, the

Jewish Festival of Lights.

Hanukkah is the eight-day Jewish festival that recalls the Jewish

Maccabees’ rededication of their temple in 165 BC after their victory

over the Syrians.

When the Jews reclaimed their temple, they discovered they had enough oil

to light the temple’s candelabrum for just one night. But the oil lasted

for eight days. To celebrate that miracle of light, Jews light the

menorah, an eight-pronged candelabrum, each day during Hanukkah.

As a message to passersby, menorahs are placed in windows to share in the

celebration.

“Judaism is about the magnification of light,” said Rabbi Mark S. Miller

of Temple Bat Yahm in Newport Beach. “The light is a symbol of hope,

faith, God and truth.

“We are trying to banish the darkness,” he said.

The tallest candle on the menorah, the assisting candle called the

shamas, is lit the first night. On consecutive nights, the shamas is lit

first and then used to light additional candles -- one each day until all

candles are burning.

Families will gather today at Temple Bat Yahm at 5:30 p.m. to celebrate

the first night of Hanukkah. A giant outdoor menorah, 12 feet high by 12

feet wide, will be lit behind the synagogue. Services and dinners will be

presented at the temple throughout the week.

Cantor Jonathan Grant of Temple Bat Yahm and the temple’s junior choir

will be performing a Hanukkah concert at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Orange

County Performing Arts Center.

Temple Isaiah will have a potluck dinner today at 6:30 p.m., followed by

family services at 8. During the services, temple children will be

performing a play about Hanukkah.

Fashion Island will host its annual menorah-lighting ceremony at 3:30

p.m. today in Bloomingdale’s Courtyard. Rabbi Tenenbaum of the Habad Chai

Center of Irvine will be leading the festivities. Along with goodies

being handed out to the audience, a children’s choir will be performing.

Hanukkah, which ends Nov. 11, is a festive time when families celebrate

together. Unlike the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur,

Hanukkah is not a time of heavy introspection and foreboding.

“And, as usual, we have food associated with this holiday,” said Rabbi

David Rosenberg of Temple Isaiah in Newport Beach.

The “latke,” or potato pancake, is a popular item eaten during Hanukkah.

Though its origins can not be traced to the historical wars of the

Maccabees, some associate the oil used to fry the potatoes with the oil

that burned for eight days.

Also, throughout the holiday, many American families will be exchanging

presents.

Other holiday traditions include playing spin the dreidel, which is a

four-sided top. Each side of the dreidel has a letter on it that

represents a Hebrew word for the saying “A great miracle happened there.”

Each letter is a directive for players to either put more items into or

take items out of a central pot. The game can be played with candy,

pennies or the traditional gold chocolate coins, gelt.

All temple services are open to the public.