Menorah lighting celebrates Hanukkah

Chabad of Hawaii will celebrate Hanukkah with the lighting of a giant menorah as well as a parade and a party.

The orthodox Jewish synagogue, 410 Atkinson Drive, next to the entrance of the Ala Moana Hotel, will hold its annual menorah-lighting in Waikiki and parade on Wednesday, and a "Grand Hanukkah Party," including games and treats for keiki, on Friday.

This year the holiday, also known as the Festival of Lights, gets underway Tuesday evening and wraps up on Dec. 24.

Hanukkah commemorates the triumph of religious freedom in second century B.C. when a small band of Jewish rebels, the Maccabees, defeated the Syrian Greeks who occupied their land.

According to lore, when the Jews reclaimed their Holy Temple in Jerusalem, they could find only enough undefiled oil to last for one day to purify the desecrated temple, but miraculously the small supply kept burning for eight days.

The foremost Hanukkah tradition involves lighting eight candles with recited blessings on a nine-branched menorah or candelabra. The menorah lighting takes place after sunset, except on Friday when the lighting is moved up to shortly before sunset out of respect for the Jewish Shabbat (or Sabbath). The shamash, the attendant candle used to light all the other candles, is distinguished by its height, color or location on the menorah.

On the first night, only one candle on the far right is lit from the shamash. Each night after, one more candle is lit, moving from right to left, until all burn on the eighth night to commemorate the long-lasting oil at the Holy Temple.

Other traditions include the serving of foods fried in oil because of the central role oil played in rededicating the Holy Temple. Jews of Eastern Europe eat latkes, or potato pancakes. Israeli Jews eat jelly doughnuts, or sufganiot.

Go to chabad.org for more details on Hanukkah customs.

Here are more details on Chabad’s holiday events:

» Car parade, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, starting at Kaimuki High Schoolon Kapiolani Boulevard. The parade will proceed downtown on Beretania Street to Bishop Street, then Ala Moana Boulevard to Wai­kiki, and down Kalakaua, Kapahulu and Kuhio avenues. Participants and sponsors are needed.

» Giant menorah lighting, 7 p.m. Wednesday at King Kalakaua Park, on the corner of Kalakaua Avenue at the entrance to Waikiki; free; enjoy hot latkes and Jewish music.

» Menorah lighting, 6 p.m. Thursday at Schofield Barracks Army Base with military personnel, though all are welcome. Enjoy doughnuts, hot latkes and activities for kids. Contact coordinator Brian Field for specific directions at 348-4560 or bombguy64@hotmail.com.

» Menorah lighting: 5:20 p.m. Friday followed by Shabbat candle-lighting at Chabad headquarters at the Ala Moana Hotel; singing and prayers.

» Buffet dinner: 7 p.m. Friday. Reservations are required by calling 735-8161 or emailing info@chabadof hawaii.com. Discounts for kamaaina and military. Latkes and doughnuts will be served. Music and activities for children, including games with drei­dels (four-sided tops with a Hebrew letter on each side), face painting, sand art and building a giant menorah with cans of food.

Children will receive gelt (money), which has evolved into foil-covered chocolate resembling gold coins, as part of the Hanukkah custom of giving a child a small gift each night of the holiday.

Temple Emanu-El will be holding a Shabbat Hanukkah dinner 6 p.m. Friday at its Nuuanu area temple, 2550 Pali Highway. The event’s "Team Latke" is looking for volunteers to assist with latke prep.

For more information, call 595-7521 or email executivedirector@shaloha.com.

Temple Emanu-El also will hold a menorah lighting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in front of the main chapel.