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This Sunday marks the start of Hanukkah, the eight-day Festival of Lights, and preparations are underway at local synagogues and in the homes of Jewish families.
The holiday — which this year lasts from Dec. 2 through 10 — commemorates Jewish rebels’ reclamation of their Temple in Jerusalem from Greek armies in ancient times. But on a broader level, it’s a celebration of light over darkness, and of hope in the face of adversity. And San Ramon Valley temples are marking the holiday this year with giant menorah lightings, special religious services, latkes and donuts, music and more.
“The message of Hanukkah is the message of light,” said Rabbi Shmuli Raitman of the Chabad of Danville and San Ramon. “The nature of light is that it is always victorious over darkness. A small amount of light dispels a lot of darkness. Another act of goodness and kindness, another act of light, can make all the difference.”
The holiday’s origins hark back to the second century B.C.E., rooted in accounts recorded in the Talmud, the comprehensive collection of rabbinic writings.
According to the Talmud, the holy Temple in Jerusalem had been captured by Syrian Greeks, who, seeking to impose their own religion on the Land of Israel, had defiled the Jews’ place of worship by placing Greek idols around the temple and destroying sacred oil. The small band of rebel Maccabees, though, fought the larger army and recaptured the Temple, re-establishing independence.
This part of the story is historical, according to local rabbis, but well-known Hanukkah traditions such as menorah lightings are linked to the legend of the oil. According to the Talmud, the Maccabees found only enough pure, un-defiled oil to last for one night, but the lamp burned for eight nights. Rabbis proclaimed the occurrence a miracle, symbolic of the power of spiritual faith.
In honor of this miracle, then, observant Jewish households light eight-candled menorahs and consume foods fried in oil — especially latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (fried jelly doughnuts).
The Chabad of Danville and San Ramon along with Congregation Beth Chaim will be hosting their annual Community Chanukah Celebration and Concert this Sunday at Blackhawk Plaza. The celebration will feature musician Mikey Pauker, traditional Chanukah treats, raffles, arts and crafts, Dreidel Man and more. The event is free, and everyone who attends will receive a Chanukah gift door prize.
A key part of the celebration is the lighting of a giant 9-foot menorah.
“The menorah serves as a symbol of Danville’s dedication to preserve and encourage the right and liberty of all its citizens to worship G-d freely, openly and with pride,” Raitman said. “This is true especially in America, a nation that was founded upon and vigorously protects the right of every person to practice his or her religion free from restraint and persecution.”
The event will take place from 4-6 p.m.
In addition to the Blackhawk Plaza lighting, the Chabad will also be hosting a second Community Chanukah Celebration at the newly opened City Center Bishop Ranch in San Ramon on Dec. 9, and Congregation Beth Chaim will hold a special Hanukkah celebration on Dec. 7 from 6-8 p.m. at the Beth Chaim sanctuary in Danville, located at 1800 Holbrook Drive.
Other Tri-Valley Hanukkah festivities will also be happening over the course of the eight-day celebration in nearby Pleasanton.
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