A GRAND CHANUKAH CELEBRATION ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2013 AT 4:30 PM.

The following was provided by the Jewish Learning Center:

Chanukah -The Festival of Lights- for many of us brings back fond memories of childhood years and serves to renew our sense of identity. The Chanukah lights provide us with warmth, joy, strength and inspiration. Such is the purpose of a community-wide celebration to be held at the Jewish Learning Center at 810 South Springfield Ave, Springfield, NJ.

Local dignitaries will attend the ceremony and will assist in kindling the giant “Menorah of Freedom”.

Chanukah, a celebration for all time is highlighted by the kindling of the Menorah each night of the holiday. "It is a holiday that enriches our lives with the light of tradition" said Rabbi Mendy Blesfosky, director of the Jewish Learning Center. "In ancient times our ancestors rededicated the Temple in Jerusalem with the Menorah. Today, we rededicate ourselves to making this world a better and brighter place."

Chanukah also propagates the universal message that ultimately good will prevail over evil, freedom over oppression and light over darkness.

In its Chanukah outreach campaign, we will join thousands of Jewish communities across the globe that are staging similar public displays of the Menorah and its symbolic lights. From Australia to Africa, Columbia to Hong Kong, New York City’s Central Park to the White House lawn, hundreds of thousands will experience the joy of Chanukah with Chabad.

For more information, contact the Jewish Learning Center (973) 218-6963 or email Mendy@ChabadUC.com

Chanukah information

Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, recalls the victory - more than 2,100 years ago - of a militarily weak, but spiritually strong, Jewish people over the mighty forces of a ruthless enemy that had overrun the Holy Land and threatened to engulf the land and its people in darkness.

The miraculous victory of religious freedom was compounded by a second great miracle that took place when only one jug of sacred oil was found still pure and sealed.  The Maccabees poured the one-day supply of oil into the great Menorah and rekindled the Menorah that had been desecrated and extinguished by the enemy.  The small amount of oil did not burn out at the end of the first day, but continued to burn continuously for eight days, until the special process for preparing new oil could be completed.

Lighting the Chanukah Menorah reminds us of these events and also serves as a symbol and a message of triumph of freedom over oppression, of spirit over matter, of light over darkness.

Today, Jews all over the world light their Menorot, in thanks to G-d who has saved them “To enjoy these days at this season.”  Each night an additional light is kindled until, on the eight day, the Menorah is ablaze with eight beautiful lights.

Because of the great significance of oil in the story of Chanukah, it is traditional to serve foods cooked in oil. Among the most popular are delicious Potato Latkes.

The Syrians decreed that the teaching or studying of Torah was a crime punishable by death or imprisonment. But the children defiantly studied in secret; and when Syrian patrols were spotted, they would pretend to be playing an innocent game of Dreidel.

The Dreidel is a four-sided spinning top also called a Svivon, in Hebrew.  On each side is a Hebrew letter: “Nun”, “Gimmel”, “Hay”, and “Shin”.  The letters stand for the phrase “Nes Gadol Hayah Sham - a great miracle happened there”. It is traditionally used to play a lively Chanukah game.

On Chanukah, it is traditional to give all children Chanukah Gelt (money). This beautiful custom adds to the children's happiness and festive spirit.  In addition, it affords us an opportunity to give them positive reinforcement for exemplary behavior, such as diligence in their studies, and acts of charity.