Lighting the Menorah
CRANBERRY TWP — Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah through numerous traditions, many of which are symbols commemorating the Maccabean Jews' rededication of the ancient Temple of Jerusalem following the shedding of their Greek-Syrian oppressors.
On Sunday, members of the Chabad Jewish Center of Cranberry lit the first candles on the menorah at the Cranberry Township municipal building. The center’s co-founder, Rabbi Yossi Feller, said the annual celebration is a demonstration of not only holiday traditions, but is an opportunity for Jewish people to celebrate their heritage in public.
“It’s definitely an honor to do this for the community,” Feller said. “Ultimately it’s a celebration of our freedoms to practice our religion.”
Hanukkah began Sunday, and will continue until Dec. 26. Jack Cohen, president of the Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau, said he helped organize the first public menorah lighting in Cranberry Township around five or six years ago.
He said the lighting Sunday was the most well-attended of any hosted in Cranberry Township to date, and gave partial credit to the Chabad Jewish Center for its promotion of the faith and culture.
“If people can see the customs, they can see we’re no different than anyone else,” Cohen said. “And they’re starting to build up and have services now.”
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