Menorah lighting to mark celebration of Hanukkah
BY DAVE BENJAMIN
Staff Writer

JACKSON — Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, will be marked this year with the lighting of a new menorah at town hall.

The Jewish holiday will begin on the evening of Dec. 15 and last eight days. The celebration at town hall will feature a lighting ceremony to be held at 5 p.m. Dec. 19.

At that time an 8-foot-tall menorah will be presented to the township through the efforts and donations of the women of Bat Shalom Chapter of Hadassah, the Yiddish Cultural Club of the Westlake Golf and Country Club and Rabbi Yosef Carlebach, executive director of the Chabad House-Lubavitch of Rutgers University, New Brunswick, and Chabad House-Lubavitch of Central and South New Jersey.

Susan Goldman, president of the Bat Shalom Chapter of Hadassah, related the story of Hanukkah, explaining, “During the second century B.C.E. (be-fore the common era) the Syrians-Greeks attempted to impose their practices on the Jews,” she said. “In 165 B.C.E., (2,171 years ago), a small band of fighters defeated the Syrian armies, after which the temple in Jerusalem, which had been desecrated, was cleansed and rededicated.”

Goldman said the word Hanukkah means rededication.

“An undefiled jug of oil to light the menorah symbolizes the miracle including the victory,” Goldman said. “It [the oil] was enough to last only one day, but the flame continued to burn for eight days.”

To commemorate that miraculous event, Hanukkah is observed by the kindling of lights for eight days. That is why the holiday is also referred to as the Festival of Lights. One candle is added each night and then the candles are lit by the shamish (head candle) as blessings are said in Hebrew.

“Rabbi Carlebach is a professor at Rutgers University and a spiritual leader,” Goldman said. “He agreed to bring the large menorah to Jackson as Chabad has done in other communities.”

Chabad House serves as the largest Jewish center at many universities. It is the headquarters for many Jewish activities, supporting drug prevention centers and student activities, as well as a variety of other activities.

Carlebach has been offering study groups to Hadassah members for the past few years at the home of one of the members, Goldman said.

“This is the first time there will be a public menorah lighting ceremony at that [location],” Carlebach said. “We are more than happy to dedicate the menorah in the spirit of community and to create this first annual menorah lighting ceremony.”

The Bat Shalom (Women of Peace) Hadassah chapter was formed more than four years ago and presently has a membership of 200 women and male associates who reside in Jackson. The organization runs functions for women and couples to raise money and offer social activities to its members.

“They are of all ages and different faiths,” Goldman said. “Their goals are fundraising, guidance and dispersing information to women about all the services available through the organization.”

The menorah at town hall will be lit every night of Hanukkah by members of Hadassah.

Also sponsoring the menorah lighting are the members of the Yiddish Cultural Club of Westlake, a group of men and women who love having fun and enjoy being entertained, and who keep alive the Yiddish language that was spoken by their parents and grandparents.

“The purpose of the Westlake Yiddish Cultural Club is to keep alive the Yiddish language and culture,” said Goldman. “To accomplish this goal, the club was formed in June 2005 and now has almost 400 members.”

Goldman said local officials are expected to participate in the Dec. 19 menorah dedication.

Mayor Mark Seda said, “We’re very appreciative of the donation [of the menorah] and we’ll share in the celebration.”

Dignitaries and clergy from other houses of worship have also been invited to the dedication ceremony.