Hanukkah begins at sundown Tuesday
Posted Dec 20, 2011 02:42:28 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Ottawa, ON – Jewish people around the world will light the first candle at sundown Tuesday to usher in Hanukkah — the eight-day “Festival of Lights.”
The holiday celebrates the miracle of one day’s worth of consecrated oil fueling the eternal light in the temple for eight days.
That was enough time to procure more and rekindle the flame, more than 22 centuries ago.
“The menorah is traditionally kindled at the door, at the window,” said Rabbi Mendel Kaplan, the spiritual leader and founder of Chabad Flamingo Synagogue in Thornhill, Ont.
Food is a big part of the celebration, so it’s common to eat fried foods like latkes, which are potato pancakes.
“And we also commemorate the miracle of the oil by eating oily foods. I can’t tell you it’s good for your diet, but they taste wonderful,” he said.
Hanukkah ends on Dec 28.
Several ceremonies in the capital will mark the Jewish holiday, including one at Scotiabank Place Gate One.
A giant menorah will be set up and Rabbi Blum will be on hand for the official ceremony, which will including the lighting of first candle during the first intermission of the Ottawa Senators- Buffalo Sabres game.
Also, the Ottawa Police Service will celebrate the occasion by lighting a menorah at the Elgin Street headquarters on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
