Happy Hanukkah!

Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, will be celebrated from sundown tonight through sundown on December 12th. Because the Jewish holidays are based on a lunar calendar, the holiday comes on different days each year, usually in December, but sometimes in November.

The holiday celebrates an uprising 23 centuries ago, when the Jewish people drove foreign invaders out of ancient Israel. According to the holiday story, the Jews had only a little bit of holy oil when they relit the menorah, or candle holder, in their holiest temple. They didn't think it could last eight days -- the time it would take to make new holy oil. But miraculously, it did, and that is why the holiday has eight days.

Each night of Hanukkah, candles are lit. Families sing holiday songs, tell stories, eat potato latkes (pancakes), play games with a dreidel, and exchange gifts. Children are often given candy coins or pennies to use in the dreidel game.

The officers of District VIII would like to wish a very happy Hanukkah to all of our members of the Jewish faith!