Public Employee Press

Chanukah celebrated at the union

At sunset on Dec. 22, the second day of the eight-day Jewish celebration of Chanukah, members, staff and officers gathered for a candle-lighting ceremony at DC 37. Jewish Heritage Committee Chair Dr. Leonard Davidman, the president of Psychologists Local 1189, and Executive Director Lillian Roberts welcomed the group.

Rabbi Dr. Alvin Kass, a member of Local 299 and Chief Chaplain of the Police Dept., officiated at the lighting of the candles in the menorah. Before the traditional offering of latkes (potato pancakes), jelly donuts and other delicious dishes, Local 299 President Jackie Rowe-Adams led the group in the traditional “Dreidel Song” and Rabbi Kass offered some food for thought.

“Chanukah commemorates history’s first revolt for religious freedom,” he said. “Thousands of years ago, the Maccabees fought to preserve their right to practice their religion. If they had lost, there would have been no Judaism, no Christianity, and no Islam.” This heroic chapter of Jewish history has served as a source of inspiration throughout the ages.

Connecting the ancient story to current events, Rabbi Kass pointed out that Chanukah is about a miracle and said that “under the current economic circumstances, our new contract can be regarded as a miracle that shows us how important the union is in our lives.”