Hanukkah on ice with the Chabad of Hewlett

The ice menorah was sculpted, the doughnuts were decorated, candles were rolled, skaters took to the ice rink and hot latkes were eaten at the Chabad of Hewlett’s annual Hanukkah on Ice at Grant Park on Dec. 22, the fifth night of the Jewish Festival of lights that is celebrated for eight nights. 

Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, where according to legend the Jews rebelled against Greek-Syrian oppressors in the Maccabean Revolt during the second century, B.C.

Holiday traditions include lighting the menorah, symbolic of the portion of oil found to light the temple that lasted eight days, baking latkes, eating doughnuts and chocolate gelt, playing the dreidel game and receiving gifts.