Hanukkah on ice in Hewlett was so nice

On the fourth night of Hanukkah, the Jewish holiday that is celebrated over eight days and nights, adults and children gathered at Grant Park on Hewlett for the Chabad of Hewlett’s annual Hanukkah on Ice on Dec. 5.

Indoor and outdoor activities included a candy station, crafts, decorating and eating doughnuts, dreidel fun, face painting, dancing to lively Jewish music, Hanukkah games, eating hot latkes, ice skating, raffles and the building of a giant Lego menorah.

Hanukkah, which is Hebrew for dedication, is called the Festival of Lights.

It commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over the Syrian-Greek army, and the subsequent miracle of rededicating the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and restoring its menorah, or lamp. The miracle of Hanukkah is that only one vial of oil was found with just enough oil to light the Temple lamp for one day, but it lasted for eight full days.