Hanukkah, sometimes known as Chanukah, Chaukkah, the Festival of Lights and the Feast of Dedication, is a Jewish holiday that commemorates and celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple. This year the first day of Hanukkah falls on Tuesday, December 16th and the last day falls on Wednesday, December 24th. Hanukkah is a holiday that is observed for 8 nights and days. The 8 days and nights of Hanukkah are depicted traditionally on the 9-branched menorah, 8 candles standing for the 8 nights of Hanukkah, and one extra in the middle for practical use.
Even if you don’t have a menorah of your own at home, or you don’t celebrate Hanukkah but would like to show your support to the Jewish community, you can attend a menorah lighting right here on Long Island! All over Long Island different town halls, communities, and temples, are offering public menorah lightings. Public menorah lightings provide a great way to soak up the holiday spirit and get people to come together as a community. They also provide people with the opportunity to meet others who share their beliefs and practice the same faith.
Check out all of the Festival of Lights menorah lightings going on this holiday season!
Sunday, December 14th:
- Community Hanukkah Celebration – Oceanside, 11AM – 1PM
- Menorah Workshop – Cold Spring Harbor, 2:30PM
- Menorah Lighting Ceremony – Kings Park, 4PM
Tuesday, December 16th:
- Ronkonkoma Chanukah Menorah Lighting – Ronkonkoma, please call 631-963-2796 for time
- Mt. Sinai Menorah Lighting – Mount Sinai, 4:30PM
- Hanukkah Candle Lighting – East Hills, 5PM
- Long Beach Menorah Lighting – Long Beach, 5:30PM
- St. James Menorah Lighting – Saint James, 5:30PM
Wednesday, December 17th:
- Town of Islip Menorah Lighting – Islip, 5PM
- Brookhaven Town Hall Menorah Lighting – Farmingville, 6PM
- Manetto Hill Jewish Center's Chanukah Celebration Community Menorah Lighting – Plainview, 6PM
Friday, December 19th:
- Annual Community Menorah Lighting – Bay Shore, 7PM – 9PM
Sunday, December 21st:
- Temple Beth El Community Menorah Lighting – Patchogue, 7PM
Photo by Dov Harrington, via Wikicommons.