Happy Hanukkah

December 01, 2010

Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday celebrated for eight days and nights. It begins at sundown tonight.  In Hebrew, the word Hanukkah means dedication and is a reminder that this holiday commemorates the re-dedication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem following the Jewish victory over the Syrian-Greeks in 165 B.C.E. The traditions of Hanukkah may vary somewhat among communities, but three traditions are universally celebrated. They are: lighting the hanukkiyah (somewhat different than a menorah), spinning the dreidel, and eating traditional foods. 

Check out some of the materials that your MCPL branch has about Hanukkah, and learn more about this holiday.

Gayla S.
Colbern Road Branch