As the weather gets colder, the lights get brighter – Marine Park residents gathered at the Carmine Carro Community Center, 3000 Fillmore Avenue, on Sunday afternoon, December 8th, to learn about the importance of Chanukah.
The Marine Park Alliance organized the event as part of its Festival of Lights, which includes various holidays and cultural events observed during the last quarter of the year.
Although Chanukah begins on the evening of Wednesday, December 25th, Rabbi Heidi Hoover of B’ShERT—Beth Shalom v’Emeth Reform Temple observed it early this year; she curated the event and taught about the holiday’s origins and customs.
Hoover noted how Israel is often at the corner of powerful empires, such as the Egyptians, Romans and the Seleucid Empire. In the 2nd century BC, Jewish warriors, known as the Maccabees, revolted against the Seleucids; the aftermath of that revolution serves as the basis for Chanukah.
After the Maccabees retook the Second Temple from the Seleucids, who seized it for their Hellenistic religion, the Jews cleansed the temple, rebuilt its altar and lit its menorah. Although there was only enough oil for one day, a miracle occurred, and the lights continued to burn for eight days; thus, an eight-day holiday was commemorated for the event.
This year’s event was focused on music, as the choir from B’ShERT sang songs related to Chanukah and its customs.
“We are a temple family and we really enjoy being with each other, and [although] this isn’t the choir, this is just anybody who wanted to sing and enjoy,” said Elly Rothstein, a member of B’ShERT.
Hoover also discussed Chanukah traditions, such as the lighting of the menorah and typical foods – latkes (fried potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (fried jelly doughnuts) – and explained the connection of the dreidel with Chanukah. Four letters, “Nun,” “Gimel,” “Hey,” and “Shin,” appear on each side of a dreidel, which stands for the phrase, “Nes Gadol Hayah Sham,” meaning “A great miracle happened there,” referencing the eight-day lighting.
“We live in a time when it is more important than ever for us to build relationships across religious and ethnic and racial lines,” said Hoover. “So, it is a great joy for me to be able to share our celebration of Chanukah and Chanukah music with the greater community.”
