Hanukkah Begins Saturday at Sunset

Hanukkah Begins Saturday at Sunset

Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, begins Saturday, December 8 at sunset, on the 25th day of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar. It lasts for eight days. Locals can attend services at The United Jewish Center of Danbury, 141 Deer Hill Ave., Danbury or The Jewish Community Center, 9 Route 39 South, Sherman.

According to the Diversiy Calendar:

“Hanukkah celebrates the victory (165 BCE) of the Maccabees over the Syrian tyrant Antiochus IV and the subsequent reclamation of Jerusalem. According to the Talmud, only a one day supply of nondesecrated oil was found in the Temple when the Maccabees prepared it for rededication by removing all Syrian idols. Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days until oil that was fit for use in the temple could be obtained.

This miracle is commemorated by the lighting of the Hanukkah candles. The candles are placed on the menorah or hanukkiya, a nine-branch candelabrum. The ninth branch of the hanukkiya holds the shamash, or servant light. This branch is lit first and is used to light a new candle on successive nights. The candle lighting is accompanied by the chanting of blessings.”

Tonight the Jewish Center of Danbury on Deer Hill Ave. lit a candle at 4:06 p.m. This week’s Torah portion, Parashat Vayeshev, can be ready by clicking here.

Services at The Jewish Community Center in Sherman begin at 6:30p.m. and include the following:

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EVENING

•The festival of lights will feature a four feet high wooden menorah painted in chinese red with highlights in gold leaf.  David Marks and Lys Reeman have designed and made this masterpiece, which will later be sent to Israel for outdoor display.  David will light the menorah, filled with olive oil, accompanied by the reading of the story of the significance of Hanukah

•Musical entertainment will be provided by Peters Stans, the outstanding accordion player with Yale Strom’s klezmer group Hot P’stromi

•A four course dinner prepared by a JCC member volunteer includes fruit salad, pot roast, chicken, latkes with apple sauce, kasha varnishkes, baked apples, wines and other beverages

•There will be dreidels and other games for the children, and for the adults, there will be dancing to the hora

The JCC requests a donation of at least $15 per adult (children under 13 are free). The money raised will be donated to local victims of Superstorm Sandy and to other local charities. Prepaid reservations are required. Call the JCC at 860-355-8050 or via e-mail at jccinsherman@yahoo.com.

CT Buzz News wishes to wish all who celebrate a Happy Hanukkah!