Rockland marks Hanukkah with menorah lighting at county office building

NEW CITY - The annual lighting of a 15-foot Hanukkah menorah on Monday commemorated the Jewish festival of freedom.

Members of the public viewed the early evening lighting outside the Allison-Parris County Office Building at 11 New Hempstead Road.

The eight days of Hannukkah began at sundown Sunday with the lighting of the first candle.

The festival commemorates the rededication of the second Temple of Jerusalem in 165 BCE by the Maccabees after the temple's desecration by the Syrian-Greeks. According to Jewish tradition, the Maccabees were the first Jews who fought to defend their religious beliefs.

According to the Talmud, when Judas Maccabeus entered the Temple, he found only a small jar of oil that had not been defiled. The jar contained only enough oil to burn for one day, but the oil burned for eight days until new consecrated oil could be found. The precedent was set that the festival should last eight days to commemorate the Maccabees' military victory and freedom.

“It is always important that we gather, regardless of religion, to celebrate the holiday season,” County Executive Ed Day said. “There is plenty of room in Rockland to accommodate every religion, culture, and ethnicity; all of us are enriched by exposure to cultures and beliefs other than our own. We are all unique and can benefit from learning from each other and listening to each other.”

Chabad of Rockland sponsors the annual menorah lighting, which includes refreshments and music. The lighting is organized by Rabbi Simcha Morgenstern, director of outreach and education for Chabad Lubavitch of Rockland. For more information visit www.chabadofrockland.org

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Rockland County NY marks Hanukkah with menorah lighting