Hanukkah, the annual Jewish festival lasting eight nights and days, commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem during the second century BCE, is now underway. Former broadcaster and practicing Jew Stephen Ruben says for his people, it’s a festival.
Candles will be lit on Menorah’s each of the eight days, symbolizing the oil that was used to light the menorah in the Temple of Jerusalem after the Maccabean Revolt freed it in about 160 BCE. When the temple in Israel was retaken about 160 BCE, they wanted to light it, but found they had enough oil for just one day. Ruben says in every Jewish Temple there is an eternal light.
It is a holiday rich with tradition. Ruben says those traditions can be thousand of years old, or maybe for more recent history, especially when it comes to music.
Hannukah runs until December 15th.
written by: G. Deme
