Chanukah comes to Beth Israel, Sun City Center
Beth Israel, the Jewish Congregation of Sun City Center, will be celebrating Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, at a special Shabbat evening service on Friday, Dec. 19, beginning at 7:30 pm. The service will feature the lighting of the chanukiyah, a nine-branched candelabrum that is the central religious symbol of the festival. It will also include the singing of songs unique to the holiday, some of which are traditional while others are newer and more contemporary.
The festivities will also include the eating of foods cooked in oil to remind participants of the story of the little jug of oil that was discovered in the Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabees defeated the Greeks and rededicated the sanctuary for Jewish ritual use. The holiday takes its name from the Hebrew word meaning “dedication,” which is the point of the story.
Chanukah is a minor festival on the Jewish calendar, celebrating events that took place in the year 167 BCE. Judea was at the time a province of the Seleucid Greek empire, which had become less tolerant of religious diversity since the death of Alexander the Great, and that intolerance led to the revolt by the Maccabees. When the Greeks were expelled from Jerusalem, the Maccabees found the Temple in disarray, and when they had completed the cleanup, they sought the pure olive oil needed to light the seven-branched menorah (Hebrew: “lamp”) that had been built to the specifications of the Book of Exodus. They found enough pure oil to light the menorah for a single day, but it lasted for eight days, which gave the priests time to press more oil to keep the lamp lit as the Bible required. The chanukiyah has one branch for each of those eight days, and another as the “servant,” which is used to light the candles each evening. The lighting is accompanied with appropriate blessings.
Jews celebrate Chanukah by lighting their own chanukiyah, or menorah, at home each evening, by eating oil-cooked foods such as potato pancakes (latkes) or jelly donuts (sufganiyot), and by playing a game of spin-the-dreidl, with a four-sided top marked with the initials of the Hebrew words, a Great Miracle Was There. Since one of the first things the Maccabees did upon taking control of their country was to mint new coins, it has become customary to give as small gifts chocolate coins wrapped in gold or silver foil.
Rabbi Carla Freedman, who came to Beth Israel in July 2013, told The Observer that the synagogue is made up of Jews from all kinds of backgrounds, ranging from Orthodox to Reform and everything in-between. The congregation’s strength, she said, is its ability to incorporate divergent traditions under one roof. The rabbi reported that she has made joyous, inclusive worship the congregation’s style, which is clearly appreciated by the large numbers of congregants who attend weekly services.
As always, Beth Israel’s Chanukah service will be open to the public, and all are welcome to attend.
Messianic congregation celebrates ‘The Hanukkah – Jesus/Israel Connection’
By Rabbi Ed Marvin
Shoresh David Messianic Synagogue
Hanukkah is a festival that will be celebrated this year from Dec. 16 to 24.
Generally Hanukkah is thought of as a Jewish Festival, but really it is a celebration for all to share in.
The eight days of Hanukkah remind us of eight themes of Hanukkah: deliverance, cleansing, dedication, light, servanthood, miracles, family and community. These themes are timeless and just as important for us today as they were more than 2000 years ago when Hanukkah began.
Come join us as we celebrate “The Hanukkah – Jesus/Israel Connection” on Tuesday, Dec. 16, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Sun City Center Chamber of Commerce, 1651 Sun City Center Plaza. This free event will include: dreidels, snacks, music by Israeli recording artist Baht Rivka Whitten, dancing and a special holiday message by Rabbi Ron Goldberg. All are welcome.
This event is sponsored by Shoresh David Messianic Synagogues. For more information, email Rabbi Ed Marvin at EMarvin@ShoreshDavid.org or call 813-270-6361.
6-foot menorah to light up SCC Chamber of Commerce Dec. 18
Chabad of Brandon will ignite a public six-foot menorah erected at the Sun City Center Chamber of Commerce, followed by a communitywide celebration on the third night of Chanukah, which falls on Thursday, Dec. 18. The ceremony will feature the lighting of the menorah as well as a guess-the-dreidel competition, Dec-a-Donut, hot latkes (potato pancakes), Chanukah music and dancing.
The public menorah lighting marks the first public event to be organized by Chabad of Brandon in Sun City Center as part of its effort to serve the growing Jewish population of Sun City Center and Valencia Lakes. The menorah lighting follows the recently launched weekly Jewish discussion group that meets in Valencia Lakes.
Robert Frisch of Valencia Lakes has been enjoying the weekly discussion group. He said, “I enjoy how the discussion gives me food for thought while exploring a topic according to Jewish teachings, and I am looking forward to the public menorah lighting and the opportunity to meet my fellow Jewish retirees.”
The six-foot menorah is one of thousands of large public menorahs sponsored by Chabad throughout the world, helping children and adults of all walks of life discover and enjoy the holiday message.
Neil Raphael, president of the Jewish Heritage Club in Valencia Lakes, will make the blessings on the menorah. Dana Dittmar, CEO of the Sun City Center Chamber, will kindle the center flame of the menorah. The lighting will be held at 5 p.m. The Sun City Center Chamber is at 1651 Sun City Center Plaza.
The event is free of charge. Seating is limited; seat reservations are available by emailing www.jewishbrandon.com/rsvp or calling 813-571-8100.
