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Public invited to A tall Hanukkah menorah will be lighted tomorrow night on the City Hall grounds in celebration of the Jewish Festival of Light.
city’s Hanukkah
menorah lighting
Visitors can sample hot latkes,
traditional potato pancakesStar-Bulletin staff
The 6:30 p.m. public ceremony will be staged at the Chabad of Hawaii exhibit just Koko Head of Honolulu Hale, one of five private displays permitted in the midst of the Honolulu City Lights show. Visitors to the booth will have a chance to taste hot latkes, potato pancakes which are traditionally served on the holiday.
There may be an earlier Hanukkah sighting for people who watch the Honolulu Marathon tomorrow morning. Temple Emanu-El Rabbi Avi Magid and cantor Ken Aronowitz planned to lead a "Hanukkah-lulu Marathon" team seeking to collect on pledges to benefit temple educational programs. Temple members will gather tomorrow night for a community dinner.
Jews in Hawaii and around the world will continue the holiday observance for eight days, usually in family-centered gatherings. It is a time when gifts are given to children.
The holiday commemorates a historic victory for religious freedom 2,166 years ago in Israel. A band of Hebrew warriors defeated the ruling Assyrian regime, which sought to prohibit
Jewish religious practices and had defiled the temple in Jerusalem.
Although the lamp lighted for the rededication of the temple contained only one day's worth of pure oil, it continued to burn for eight days. That miracle is the basis of the eight-day observance.
Chabad of Hawaii will host a Grand Hanukkah Party at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 16. Reservations at $12 for adults and $6 for children may be made by calling 988-1499.
The organization also sponsors a public menorah display for eight days at Waikiki Gateway Park.
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