Community Corner

When Does Hanukkah 2013 Start?

How are you celebrating the holiday? Let the Livingston Patch know by sending an email to the editor Mike D'Onofrio at mike.donofrio@patch.com.

The 25th day of the month of Kislev is this week which marks the start of Hanukkah. 

For those of us who aren't so tuned into the Jewish calendar, that translates to sundown on Wednesday. The holiday, also called the Festival of Lights, lasts eight days through Thursday, Dec. 5. 

Hanukkah commemorates the story of the Maccabean Revolt against Syrian rulers in present day Israel 2,300 years ago. The Maccabees wanted to rededicate Jerusalem's main temple, but had only enough oil to kindle the Eternal Light for one day. Yet the oil lasted for eight, according to the story, and thus the holiday of Hanukkah was born.

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Today Jews generally celebrate by gathering together with family, lighting a menorah over the course of eight days, playing dreidel and eating special holiday food, like potato latkes.

How are you celebrating the holiday? Do you have a special recipe that you make every year? Are you doing something different for the holiday? 

Let the Livingston Patch know by sending an email to the editor Mike D'Onofrio at mike.donofrio@patch.com. 
 

Find out what's happening in Livingstonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.


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