BCAT News

Temple Shalom Emeth in Burlington is gearing up for Hanukkah with a family worship service on Friday, December 13 followed by a community-wide Hanukkah party on Sunday, December 15 from 10:30 to noon. All are invited for a scavenger hunt, food, games, and the opportunity to make your own menorah. 

Hanukkah begins at sundown on Wednesday, December 25 and lasts until sundown on Thursday, January 2. 

“Hanukkah celebrates the liberation of second-century B.C.E. Jews from their Greek oppressors who destroyed the second temple in Jerusalem and persecuted the Jews,” said Temple Shalom Emeth Rabbi Susan Abramson. “There was a family called the Maccabees, who fought against King Antiochus and the Greek Army, and eventually were able to, using guerrilla war tactics, defeat them and restore and purify the temple in Jerusalem.” 

Abramson went on, according to legend, a little jar of oil in the temple that was only supposed to have enough oil for one day, miraculously lasted for eight, at least in one telling of the reason for why Hanukkah lasts eight days. 

“Hanukkah means rededication, so it’s a time when we celebrate the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem and we rededicate ourselves to our Jewish faith and traditions, and to the Jewish people.” 

Temple Shalom Emeth will hold a ceremonial lighting of the menorah all eight nights of Hanukkah, at 6:30 in front of the temple. All in the community are welcome. 

“I always think about what lessons we should take from Hanukkah every year, and this year my gut reaction is we need to be more like the Maccabees, who fought against evil and won,” Abramson said. “We need to be like the Maccabees and stand up against oppression and stand up against anti-semitism and stand up for people who can’t stand up for themselves, and rededicate themselves to our values.”