Hanukkah begins, locals prepare for celebrations

Although Hanukkah is the most well-known Jewish holiday, it is not the most important in terms of religious holiday.

"It is a minor holiday," Raiskin said.

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement are far more holy holidays. The fact that it occurs near Christmas is just a coincidence because the holiday begins on the 25th day of the ninth month of the Jewish year, usually occurring in the months of November and December.

Even though it is not the holiest of days, it is a time for family to come together and celebrate.

"We have a special dinner, we eat latkes, and play dradle," said Patti Moskovitz, a 30 year member of Temple Sholom. "We sing holiday songs and tell the story of Hanukkah."

Moskovitz's family lights each candle on the menorah to symbolize something specific. "We make the candles stand for things like love, memory, heroism, or family," Moskovitz said.

According to the tradition, Hanukkah is the celebration of the revolution against assimilation and the suppression of Jewish religion by the Greeks. After the successful revolution, the Jewish Temple was rededicated following its desecration by the Greeks.

After the rededication of the temple there was only a tiny jug of oil left, which was only expected to keep the candle lit for one day, but it burned for eight days. The eight candles on the menorah represent the eight days the candle stayed lit. In every temple there must be a N'er Tamid, the eternal light that once lit, is never extinguished.

The name [Hanukkah] means rededication," Raiskin said. "It is a time to remember the fight of the few against the many, sometimes the numbers are not as important. We remember their righteousness."

Hanukkah services are also taking place at the Peninsula Sinai Congregation in San Mateo on Friday at 7:45, and at the Peninsula Temple Beth El in San Mateo at 7:30.

<