WACO, Texas — Hanukkah began on Thursday, Dec. 7, and Rabbi Laura Harari of Temple Rodef Shalom in Waco is asking for support from the Central Texas community so the Jewish people of Waco can enjoy a safe and fun holiday.
"If you can just express your support, that would be worth so much," said Harari. "Often people are going through battles by themselves."
Hanukkah relates to tradition from Jewish history when the Syrian Greeks destroyed the temple in Jerusalem and the freedom fighters, the Maccabees, came to protect and reconnect the temple, Harari said.
"We start with one candle that we light tonight and we move up to eight candles," Harari said. "The legend tells that there was a cruse of oil with only enough oil to burn one night, but that lasted for eight nights and now we have eight nights of Hanukkah."
Harari said for the Jewish community, Hanukkah is considered a minor festival, but in the United States, since the holiday falls around Christmas time, it's celebrated much more widely.
Given the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Harari said the lights of Hanukkah bring "hope" and "joy in a dark time of year."
"Just as Christmas lights are meant to bring hope," Harari said. "As we celebrate, however, it's hard when there are folks being held captive, but there are challenges and we try to celebrate the good at the same time."
Harari said the holiday and the current geopolitical climate mirror the opposite of Jewish scripture. She said in the Book of Zachariah it reads "not by might, not by power but by my spirit" there can be peace.
Throughout the week, the light from the candles grows each night and Harari said the holiday is commemorated with foods made in oils, such as potato pancakes and jelly doughnuts, to mirror the oil burning from the candles.
The temple will be holding its Shabbat services on Friday, Dec. 8, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
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