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A Few Clouds Hanukkah, oh Hanukkah
Villagers celebrate the Festival of Lights
Students, spiritual leaders and congregants from the Hewlett-East Rockaway Jewish Centre and Religious School assembled on the grounds of Village Hall in East Rockaway on Tuesday night to celebrate Hanukkah.
Village and town officials were on hand as Rabbi Andrew Warmflash lit the fifth candle on the village Menorah. Jews light Hanukkah candles to remember the miracle of the Maccabees’ victory and the miracle of the oil that burnt for eight days in the holy Temple. It is a mitzvah (commandment from God) that Jews “publicize the miracle” by lighting a Hanukkah Menorah (also called a Chanukiah) each night during the eight days of Hanukkah. The center candle, or the Shamash, is meant to help light the other candles.
“We do this here [at Village Hall] to demonstrate our faith to everyone,” said Warmflash, “our faith tells us to let the world know, and that we will never forget.”
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