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Chanukah candles honor victory of freedom fighters 2,175 years ago

As DC 37 began its annual Chanukah celebration Dec. 15, Executive Director Lillian Roberts thanked Jewish Heritage Committee Chair Dr. Leonard Davidman for “coming forth every year and telling the story of this great holiday, which honors religious freedom.”

Davidman, the president of Psychologists Local 1189, officiated at the celebration and Rabbi Dr. Alvin Kass, Chief Chaplain of the New York Police Dept. and a member of Local 299, recited the Hebrew blessing as he lit the candles in the traditional menorah. About 200 participants joined in singing “Ma’oz Tzur” (“Rock of Ages”).

Participants enjoyed the traditional fried foods, such as jelly donuts and potato pancakes, known as latkes in Yiddish. Tiny colored dreidels, the four-sided spinning tops that children play with on Chanukah, dotted the tables.

As Rabbi Kass described, Chanukah is also called the Festival of Lights. It marks the victory 2,175 years ago of a small band of Jewish resistance fighters led by Judah Maccabee (“the hammer”) over a large Syrian/Greek occupation force that captured Jerusalem and banned the Jewish religion. A woman named Judith played an instrumental role in the military triumph.

The holiday celebrates resistance to tyranny, history’s first revolt for religious freedom and the important role of women in the miraculous victory.